Islanders flee from Cyclone Nathan’s wrath

Darwin residents were urged to prepare yesterday for the possible arrival of Cyclone Nathan.

Darwin residents were urged to prepare yesterday for the possible arrival of Cyclone Nathan, which was tracking west along the Arnhem Land coast, causing hundreds of people to be evacuated from a low-lying island.

A state of emergency was declared on Goulburn Island, about 300km east of Darwin, with the island’s entire population of more than 400 to be flown to safety in temporary accommodation at Darwin’s showgrounds, under the care of the Red Cross.

Last night the island’s main community, Warruwi, lay directly in the storm’s path and lacks sufficient cyclone-rated shelter. Its small runway would make last-minute evacuation difficult or impossible.

Nathan, a category-2 system, crossed the coast near Nhulunbuy on the far-northeastern tip of Arnhem Land on Sunday, before striking Elcho Island, about 530km east of Darwin, that night and heading back out to sea.

The Bureau of Meteorology last night predicted Nathan would strengthen to a category-3 cyclone before recrossing the coast and weakening inland.

Chief Minister Adam Giles warned Darwin residents to prepare for the “unlikely” chance it continued west to strike the city.

At Nhulunbuy, trees were downed, several buildings damaged and some yachts broke their moorings.

Residents of Elcho Island — who last month bore the brunt of Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam, which damaged more than 100 homes — were forced to take shelter but reports suggested the island had escaped damage.

The BOM warned those in cyclone areas to expect wind gusts up to 155kmh, heavy rain and dangerous storm tides.