Cyclone Fina's Impact on Darwin: A Comprehensive Update
The Top End of Australia endured an intense weekend as residents braced for and then sought shelter from Tropical Cyclone Fina, a category three storm that brushed the Northern Territory's coastline on Saturday. The aftermath revealed a challenging scene, with fallen trees, damaged homes, and disrupted power supplies.
As the week begins, here's a detailed breakdown of what's happening in Darwin and the surrounding areas.
Schools and Education
The NT Department of Education announced on Sunday that it's working to ensure all government schools will open on Monday. However, 17 schools have been forced to close today due to power outages or significant damage:
- Alawa Primary School
- Bees Creek Primary School
- Belyuen School
- Berry Springs Primary School
- Darwin High School
- Darwin Middle School
- Driver Primary School
- Dundee Beach School
- Howard Springs Primary School
- Humpty Doo Primary School
- Leanyer Primary School
- Middle Point School
- Moil Primary School
- Nemarluk School
- NT School of Distance Education
- Taminmin College
- Woodroffe Primary School
These schools will contact families directly with closure updates. The department is also assessing early-child services and private schools to determine their operational status.
Tiwi College, a major secondary school in the Tiwi Islands, has announced a closure 'until further notice' due to extensive damage from the cyclone.
Businesses and Services
The NT Police Force's incident controller, Kirsten Engels, assured that businesses are expected to operate normally on Monday, with most residents returning to work. The only exceptions are workplaces with safety concerns, which will manage those internally.
On Sunday, Woolworths stores in Darwin, including Gateway, Casuarina, Darwin CBD, Coolalinga, Humpty Doo, and Leanyer, were reported open. Other branches remained closed due to power outages but aimed to resume operations by Monday.
Power Restoration
Approximately 19,500 homes and businesses lost power after the cyclone. By Sunday evening, 2,500 customers in Wagaman, Marrara, Moil, Larrakeyah, Ludmilla, and Girraween had their power restored. However, providing a clear timeline for full restoration remains challenging.
Michael Bessalink, from Power and Water Corporation, explained that assessing the network is crucial before estimating a timeline. The company must identify multiple faults across different areas to ensure public safety.
Transportation and Travel
Superintendent Engels advised drivers to take extra care on Top End roads, as many traffic lights are out. She recommended slowing down at intersections without working lights, treating them as give-way signs.
All public buses will operate on Monday, according to Superintendent Engels. Darwin International Airport's runway remained intact, and the airport resumed operations, though it will monitor weather conditions over the next few days.
Healthcare
Hospitals and medical centers in Darwin and Palmerston, as well as those on the Tiwi Islands, remain operational. Royal Darwin Hospital declared a code brown on Friday, discharging patients to create space for emergencies. On Sunday, NT Health urged patients' friends and relatives to refrain from visiting, limiting access to essential caregivers and parents of pediatric patients.
