SYDNEY: Approximately 700 individuals found themselves stranded in far northern Australia on Tuesday following the passage of a tropical cyclone that ravaged their remote community, severing communication and transportation links with the rest of the country.
Efforts by the Australian Defence Force to evacuate residents of Borroloola, a small community in the Northern Territory, were impeded by adverse weather conditions, preventing aircraft from landing on Monday.
As the cyclone made landfall on Monday afternoon, residents were urged to seek shelter within the community. The Category 3 storm brought heavy rainfall and fierce winds, reaching speeds of 170-200 kilometres (100-125 miles) per hour, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Emergency Minister Murray Watt acknowledged the challenges faced in conducting evacuations due to poor weather conditions on Monday but expressed optimism for renewed deployment efforts on Tuesday.
While the cyclone, formerly known as Megan, has since been downgraded to a tropical low, lingering heavy rains persist as the storm system moves inland.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of remote communities in Australia to the impacts of severe weather events and the importance of swift and effective response efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
