29 C
Agartala
Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Flood warnings issued after tropical cyclone hits northwest Australia

Date:

Flood warnings have been issued for northwest Australia after a tropical cyclone made landfall on Friday, bringing intense rainfall and strong winds.

Tropical cyclone Zelia crossed the coast of Western Australia (WA) near the small town of De Grey in the state’s northwest Pilbara region as a category four storm shortly after midday local time on Friday, hours earlier than expected. It was forecast to reach the coast in the evening as a category five storm.

Wind gusts of up to 220 km per hour and over 500 millimeters of rain were recorded in De Grey before the storm quickly weakened.

Authorities on Saturday morning downgraded it to an ex-tropical cyclone but warned that heavy rain is expected to persist and could lead to flash flooding.

Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said that record rainfall has been reported across parts of the Pilbara coast.

“There will be significant flooding impacts for the next several days and widespread road closures are expected to continue for the next several days as the clean-up continues,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The strong winds downed trees across the region but as of Saturday morning no major damage or injuries had been reported.

Some towns have been isolated after roads were cut off.

Hines said that significant road closures should be expected as water levels rise.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services has urged Pilbara residents to exercise caution around damaged buildings, floodwaters and fallen powerlines and trees.

Share post:

Subscribe

Adspot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

G7 leaders support Israel, criticise Iran for being principal source of terror

Leaders of G-7 countries on Tuesday strongly criticised Iran...

Trump warns Iranians to leave Tehran amid escalating tensions

US President Donald Trump has called for a mass...

South Africa: 12 killed in bus-truck collision in KwaZulu-Natal Province

A bus and a truck collided head-on on the...

Typhoon Wutip leaves 7 dead in central Vietnam

Heavy rains and flooding triggered by Typhoon Wutip have...