Thousands of people in Western Australia’s Pilbara region have spent the night indoors sheltering from tropical cyclone Damien, which caused significant damage when it made landfall near Karratha on Saturday night.
Tropical cyclone Damien reached the coast as a category three storm but was downgraded to a category two storm on Sunday morning.
Reports on social media show damage to roofs in Karratha.
Damage at a Karratha property. Similar issues for a lot of people. #TCDamien pic.twitter.com/n1UfU2LiJd
— Rebecca Parish (@Rebecca_Parish) February 8, 2020
How's this for a text exchange between my mate and his brother? He lost his roof but managed to get out safely. Luckily his brother is his neighbour, and was able to grab Gary (the cat) and make his way safely next door. #TCDamo #TCDamien #CycloneDamien @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/jV8FbepMd2
— Michelle Stanley (@michlstan) February 8, 2020
A red alert remains in place for Pilbara communities south of Karratha, from Whim Creek to Mardie, and residents have been told to “remain inside and shelter in the strongest, safest part of your house or evacuation centre”.
Residents have been told to stay inside until authorities give the all clear. Emergency services made more than 100 calls for assistance on Saturday night, the ABC reported.
Mmmkay yep, I’m done. #cyclonedamien pic.twitter.com/vQM6KXMwSD
— Jerrie Demasi (@JerrieDemasi) February 8, 2020
Wind gusts of up to 205km/h have been recorded and Karratha received 140mm of rain over 24 hours, with up to 400mm of rain in 24 hours forecast in some areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the cyclone will weaken as it heads inland. On Sunday morning the cyclone was tracking 175km southeast of Karratha, with forecast winds of up to 95km/h, with gusts of up to 130km/h.
A busy day to say the least! Sat loop shows #TCDamien as it crossed the coast. Powerful and dangerous, it brought wind gusts of 195km/hr and heavy rainfall (76mm so far) to #Karratha pic.twitter.com/ni2YwbnSIZ
— Neil Bennett (@cneilb) February 8, 2020
Parts of the Pilbara and northwest Gascoyne are forecast to have gale-force winds, but that warning does not extend to Newman, which is about 700km southeast of Karratha.
About 1,500km south, near Ravensthorpe on the WA south coast, communities were under an emergency warning for a bushfire that was threatening properties and lives in WA.
She flew over alright,all afternoon.
— MelS (@mbs1710) February 8, 2020
Thanks to the bombers for their hard work and the fire crews and vollies. pic.twitter.com/bOGl3t2hb0
The fire was downgraded to a watch and act at 5am local time.
Port Hedland was given an all clear on Saturday, but a yellow alert remains in place for areas southeast of Karratha, including Wittenoom, and a blue alert is in place for communities further inland around Tom Price.
A flash-flooding warning has been issued for the ephemeral rivers in the Pilbara coastal rivers region, from Port Hedland to Dampier, as well as the Fortescue River catchment, from Newman to Karijini National Park. Karijini has been closed until the cyclone clears.
