EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE HAYLEY LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION: Roofs Ripped Off, Power Lines Downed and Communities Cut Off in Western Australia’s North
- Two homes in the Djarindjin community lost their roofs as ex-Tropical Cyclone Hayley made landfall on Tuesday afternoon
- The category three system brought damaging winds and heavy rainfall to the West Kimberley, causing significant infrastructure damage
- Cape Leveque Road remains closed to the public, with emergency services personnel working to clear the area and restore power
- Residents describe the experience as “absolutely terrifying” and “daunting”, with many staying put despite the intense weather conditions
The Djarindjin community in Western Australia’s north has been left reeling after ex-Tropical Cyclone Hayley made landfall on Tuesday afternoon. The category three system brought damaging winds and heavy rainfall to the West Kimberley, causing significant infrastructure damage and leaving residents shaken.
“It was absolutely terrifying,” said Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Nathan McIvor. “The whole community got sandblasted. Our new basketball court has been completely torn up, the store has copped a fair bit of debris against it.”
Two homes in the community lost their roofs, while power lines were downed, leaving residents without electricity. The community’s basketball court sustained significant damage, and a shipping container was rolled over in the strong winds.
Despite the intense weather conditions, many residents stayed put, with some describing the experience as “daunting”. “It was quite daunting with the wind unexpectedly hitting — the community haven’t had a cyclone for many years,” said resident Sherena Bin Hitam.
Emergency services personnel travelled north from Broome on Wednesday to assess the impact, with Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) acting Kimberley superintendent Todd Pender confirming the extent of the damage. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to clear the area and restore power,” he said.
Cape Leveque Road, linking the Dampier Peninsula to Broome, remains closed to the public, with road signs knocked down and debris littering the area. Residents are being warned to stay safe and wait for the all-clear before beginning the clean-up process.
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm managing director James Brown said the roads needed clearing before boats could be taken out to assess the full extent of the damage. “It’s going to be a big few weeks ahead of everyone on the Peninsula cleaning up,” he said.
Despite the challenges ahead, residents are relieved that the cyclone made landfall earlier than expected, allowing them to see the damage unfold. “It meant the people out there could actually see what was going on around them as the wind really picked up and peaked, as opposed to just hearing it in the dark — [that] would’ve been a lot more daunting,” said Mr Brown.