Townsville, Australia — Tens of thousands of residents in Queensland are facing power outages after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily made landfall late Thursday, unleashing destructive winds and heavy rainfall along the northeastern coast.
The category two cyclone hit near the tourist city of Townsville, bordering the Great Barrier Reef, before weakening to a tropical low on Friday. Despite the downgrade, the storm left a trail of disruption, with Queensland Premier Steven Miles reporting that approximately 64,000 people were without electricity.
“We are working diligently to restore power,” said Emma Oliveri, spokesperson for Ergon Energy. “However, it is too early to provide a precise timeline for when services will be fully restored.”
The severe weather comes as Australia grapples with the impacts of an El Niño weather event, known for triggering extreme conditions such as cyclones, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves. Meteorologists warn that such events could become more frequent and intense, emphasizing the need for robust preparedness and response strategies.
Local authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides. Emergency services are on high alert, assisting those affected and ensuring that essential services are reinstated promptly.
As communities begin the recovery process, the focus remains on restoring normalcy and assessing the full extent of the storm’s impact on infrastructure and the environment.
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Thousands of Australians without power in tropical cyclone aftermath
cgtn.com
