Western Australia is fighting the effects of the tropical Zelia cyclone. Some places have adopted record amounts of rain that contributed to vast floods. The authorities warn that this is not the end yet, and although the weather system has already begun to weaken, the plaintiffs may take its toll over the near future.
Lots of destroyed houses, trees ripped off with roots and record rainfall and floods are just some of the consequences of the tropical cyclone Zelia. The phenomenon still wreaks havoc in Western Australia, although from Friday it has already weakened a bit.
The worst has not come true
The cyclone that hit the land on Friday brought with it a wind reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour. According to Angus Hines, an older meteorologist at the Australian Meteorological Office, the phenomenon has caused the greatest damage in areas further from the coast.
In just three days, some places in the Pilbar region adopted a record amount of 500 liters of rain per square meter. In a small town of Telfer, 93 l/sq m fell in an hour.
– It is extremely rare in this place and this part of the world. The rain caused significant floods and closures of roads throughout the region – said Hines.
Tropical zelia cyclone Modis Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
According to the prime minister of Western Australia, Roger Cook, fortunately no one was injured. He added that two Aboriginal communities in Pilbara are threatened by the flood. Terrible phenomena meant that on Saturday it was necessary to transport several dozen people to more secure areas. In total, about 200 people were evacuated.
The authorities said that the floods may take a few more days, if not weeks. However, the most serious damage was avoided, because the weather system moved east and regions, which were most exposed to the gusty wind, were not affected with its full force. Despite this destruction, they are serious anyway. Australian defense forces are to give support in their reconstruction.
– Literally hundreds, hundreds of trees were ripped out of the roots – said the deputy head of the local life ambulance Barry Harrison. “The cyclone is still moving there and sheds a lot of rain,” he added.
The services warn
Cook announced that the emergency services went to the victims at least 60 times. Safety checks are still underway in Port Hedland.
– This weather system was large and unpredictable, but its consequences could be much worse – said the prime minister. – The system has dropped a huge amount of rain on Pilbar and it can still lead to continuous floods. Driving in such conditions is extremely dangerous, it can be life -threatening – he warned.
For some of the regions of Pilbara, Gascoyne, North Interior and South Interior, they are still issued by warnings and flood alerts.
– In the next day, rainfall with a total value of up to 120 liters per square meter is expected, and this is a lot in this usually quite dry region. In the next 24 hours we can continue to observe river level increases – added Hines.
The Guardian, tvnmeteo.pl
Source of the main photo: Modis Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC