Fina Cat 3 Cyclone brushed southern tip of Tiwi Islands; closed Darwin Airport. ABC Sunday night news Australia report w transcript, Heating Planet

Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina has passed Darwin and the Tiwi Islands at category three strength, with the weather system's gale-force winds leaving a path of destruction as it continues west into the ocean. Fina was the Northern Territory's strongest cyclone to pass Darwin since the deadly Cyclone Tracy in 1974. WATCH & READ- Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina leaves a path of destruction in her wake- ABC NEWS Nov 23 report, transcript below, more reports on Fina to come here soon-[ABC News, an Australian public broadcast service]

TRANSCRIPT

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After a week of anticipation, cyclone FINA arrived in Darwin last night, causing wild and wet conditions across the city. Relief this morning (Monday) with no injuries reported, although thousands of people are without power potentially for days to come. [footage] Oh no. Oh my god.

Fina's force, was a small but destructive system making its mark in the territory capital. Winds reaching almost 100 kilometers per hour at Darwin airport between 7 and 8:30 last night. [footage] 

We just heard this huge crash and we came outside and found uh the tree had fall on the neighbors veranda on their place. I was sitting on the couch. I was about to doze off and then we just hear a massive thud. We look out the window and there's just a massive tree in the yard. 

As Fina continued its southwest track, it brushed the southern tip of the Tiwi Islands. Melville Island copying it. Waramianga on Ba'ath Island hit even harder with 90 people sheltering inside a school hall. It was a very intense storm. Um and we definitely even during it pretty early on actually we had a lot of trees go which made people quite worried. 

FINA causing no injuries. Although Royal Darwin Hospital's level one ceiling was a casualty, there were no injuries to staff or patients and it did not impact patient outcomes or our ability to look after the people in our care in hospital. 

1.35

Almost 20,000 properties were left without power across Darwin with many suburbs still in the dark tonight. After Cyclone Marcus in 2018, some homes were without power for more than a week. The chief minister today saying once again it could be days before power returns. 

Priority areas for us returning power are of course schools but because we want our kids back in the classroom tomorrow where it's safe to do so. The chief also saying schools should have notified parents by now about reopening. Jack Hisop, ABC News. ABC reporter Olivana Lathouris on trying to get a sense of when things will return to normal. We'll take you now to Olivan Lurus who's been out and about trying to get a sense of when things will return to normal. Ollie, what have you learned? 

2.19

Well, Kyle, I've got some good news for the kiddies out there, maybe some less good news for some parents on the school front. The Department of Education has confirmed a list of at least 17 schools across the greater Darwin area that will be closed tomorrow. Now, schools should have been in touch with parents to let them know whether the school their child attends will be open or closed. We know that around 2,500 power and water customers were reconnected over the course of the day, but that still leaves at least 15,000 households and businesses without power tonight. Now, there's still a lot of traffic lights out of order, debris, trees on the road. We have seen a couple of people coming for an evening stroll through the city, picking up a bit of takeaway. So there is a sense that things are returning somewhat back to normal, but Kyle, I think it's going to be a little bit of a rocky start to the week. 

3.10

Thanks, Ollie. Despite the massive clean-up ahead for Darwin, the city's resilience has shone through as locals pick up the pieces ready to move on. Despite the massive cleanup ahead for Darwin, the city's resilience has shone through as locals pick up the pieces, ready to move on. Trees and traffic lights down, boats stranded, and chainsaws firing up. Just be safe and don't panic. Darwin wakes to the damage bill left by tropical cyclone FINA. Just got here and having a look around and obviously we took a bit of a hit. Same as Darwin everywhere. 

Darwin Harbor to numerous smashed and sunken boats. True Territorian valet parking I suppose. E. And damage to Stokes Hill Wharf. This Territorian lucky to find his vessel still afloat. Seems to be the only bay that's survived. Everything else seems to be on the rocks here. some still opting to open shop and get on with business. We do things a bit different in Darwin. I still, you know, even though it was a category 4 and the trees were uprooted and, you know, bending over and all the rest of it, it was just, you know, something of a bit of a big blow. For some of the thousands left without Maine's power, generators provide for the essentials. So we could run the lights and fans, fridge and freezer, and of course the cricket yesterday on the TV priority. 

After 25 years in Darwin, this northern suburbs family was prepared for Fina's onslaught, but still shocked by her force. Yeah, it was very loud. I was surprised the noise. Like you got rain noise, but the wind. Travelers delayed, waiting outside a closed Darwin airport this morning. I was meant to fly out yesterday morning, which was obviously not happening. With the doors reopening just after midday, we're very fortunate that most of the damage was like everybody else. Trees are down and and some minor damage. Um the runways held up extremely well, but in Fina's wake, travel delays are still expected. Pretty disruptive day. Um but yeah, we're we're underway. Darwin now out of the danger zone as FINA marches on. Matt Garrick, ABC News.

5.20 END OF TRANSCRIPT

[Video continues with more news of power outages and trees down footage to the end. Another, more in-depth report on Fina in Australia November 23rd is coming up shortly that calls it a Category 4 -ke]