- विज्ञापन -
Sydney: Flood warnings have been issued for northwest Australia following the landfall of tropical cyclone Zelia, which brought heavy rainfall and strong winds. The cyclone struck the coast of Western Australia (WA) near De Grey in the Pilbara region as a category four storm shortly after midday local time on Friday, arriving earlier than anticipated. It was initially expected to make landfall in the evening as a category five storm.
De Grey experienced wind gusts reaching 220 km/h and over 500 mm of rain before the storm rapidly weakened. By Saturday morning, authorities downgraded it to an ex-tropical cyclone but cautioned that heavy rainfall would continue, potentially causing flash flooding.
Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported record rainfall across parts of the Pilbara coast and warned of significant flooding impacts and widespread road closures in the coming days as cleanup efforts begin. Fortunately, as of Saturday morning, there were no major damages or injuries reported, though strong winds had downed trees in the area. A flood watch has been issued for several rivers and parts of the Sandy Desert catchment, and some towns have become isolated due to cut-off roads.
Hines indicated that further road closures are likely as water levels rise. The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services has advised residents in the Pilbara to be cautious around damaged structures, floodwaters, and fallen power lines and trees. Additional emergency services have started arriving at Port Hedland Airport, with commercial flights expected to resume on Sunday.
