Fears of Cyclone Ilsa are growing in Western Australia. The tropical cyclone is currently classified as Category 2 and is still over the sea about 340 kilometers northwest of Broome in the Kimberley region, ABC reported on Wednesday, citing the national weather service. However, the storm is expected to intensify in the coming days. “Should Ilsa reach the coast as a Category 4 system, it would be the first cyclone of this magnitude to hit Australia in four years,” it said.
In 2019, Hurricane Trevor caused severe damage in Queensland and the Northern Territory. A cyclone of this strength last raged in Western Australia more than ten years ago, the AAP news agency reported. Ilsa is expected to make landfall between Port Hedland and Broome on Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile, evacuation of Aboriginal communities, cattle ranches, miners and caravan parks in remote areas have begun. “People have to prepare for winds of over 200 kilometers per hour,” said Darren Klemm of the region’s emergency services. Todd Smith, spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology, warned: “There will be a lot of damage to trees, vegetation and all buildings and infrastructure (…), and trailers and cars will be thrown through the air.”
