Residents in the Northern Territory assess damage from last night’s category 3 cyclone

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Residents in the Northern Territory are assessing damage from Cyclone Fina, which passed just north of Darwin as a category 3 system last night. Winds reached 140 kilometres per hour and 19,500 homes lost power. The State Emergency Service is clearing debris and reopening roads, and Darwin Airport has resumed operations.

Transcript

00:00Trees and traffic lights down. Boats stranded and chainsaws firing up.

00:09Just be safe and don't panic.

00:11Darwin wakes to the damage bill left by tropical cyclone Fina.

00:16Just got here and having a look around and obviously we took a bit of a hit, same as Darwin everywhere.

00:21Darwin Harbour host to numerous smashed and sunken boats.

00:25True territory and valet parking I suppose, eh?

00:29And damage to Stokes Hill Wharf, this Territorian lucky to find his vessel still afloat.

00:36Seems to be the only boat that's survived. Everything else seems to be on the rocks here.

00:41Some still opting to open shop and get on with business.

00:45We do things a bit different in Darwin.

00:47Even though it was a Category 3 and the trees were uprooted and bending over and all the rest of it,

00:53it was just something of a bit of a big blow.

00:56For some of the thousands left without mains power, generators provide for the essentials.

01:03So we could run the lights and fans, fridge and freezer and of course the cricket yesterday on the TV. Priority.

01:11After 25 years in Darwin, this northern suburb's family was prepared for Fina's onslaught, but still shocked by her force.

01:20Yeah, it was very loud. I was surprised the noise. Like you got rain noise, but the wind.

01:25Travelers delayed, waiting outside a closed Darwin airport this morning.

01:30I was meant to fly out yesterday morning, which was obviously not happening.

01:34With the doors reopening just after midday.

01:37We were very fortunate that most of the damage was like everybody else.

01:41Our trees are down and some minor damage. The runway's held up extremely well.

01:46But in Fina's wake, travel delays are still expected.

01:50Pretty destructive day, but yeah, we're underway.

01:53Darwin now out of the danger zone as Fina marches on.

01:57Marches on.

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