Cyclone Ilsa, which was awaited with great concern, has swept across coastal areas in Western Australia with gusts of more than 270 kilometers per hour. However, according to reports, the tropical cyclone caused less damage than initially feared. The main reason: “Ilsa” changed direction at the last minute and thus spared the port city of Port Hedland, which is famous for its iron ore trade.
“We are so grateful and really lucky,” Mayor Peter Carter told Australian broadcaster ABC. “It was a Category 5 cyclone – if that thing had swept over Port Hedland we would have been in real trouble.”
The National Weather Service (BOM) upgraded the cyclone to Category 5 on Thursday. The last time there was such a violent storm Down Under was in 2015. “Marcia” had caused serious damage in Queensland at the time. In 2007, category 5 cyclone George caused devastation in Western Australia, also near Port Hedland. At that time, 3 people died and 20 were injured.
Cyclone reached relatively uninhabited part of coast
“Ilsa” reached the coast around midnight (local time) in a relatively uninhabited part of the Pilbara region, about 140 kilometers from Port Hedland, the Australian “Guardian” reported on Friday. “Ilsa” set a new record in Australia: According to the weather service, the storm held a wind speed of 218 kilometers per hour over the offshore island of Bedout Island for ten minutes. That had never happened before on the fifth continent. The gusts reached top speeds of 288 kilometers per hour there.
“It appears that the more populated areas have really been spared damage,” said Peter Sutton of local emergency services. There are no reports of possible injuries. As soon as the situation is safe, teams should check the situation from the air with helicopters, among other things.
Exactly in the path of the cyclone, however, was the well-known Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern rest area directly on the Great Northern Highway, the most important connecting road in the region. Photos showed the extent of the devastation. The roof has partially collapsed, most of the solar panels have been swept away. The owner said he feared for his life and reported “four hours of hell”. The damage was in the millions, it said on the Facebook page. “We are all still shocked and very emotional.” However, one is determined to rebuild the roadhouse.
Cyclone sounded like “rapid freight train”
The authorities had brought many citizens and miners to safety in advance, and campsites and cattle ranches were evacuated. But even from a relatively safe distance, “Ilsa” sounded “like an approaching freight train,” reported Mayor Carter. “Spooky,” he added.
The storm was downgraded to Category 2 by midday and moving inland. However, “destructive” gusts of up to 140 kilometers per hour were still measured, as the BOM announced.
