Relief as hundreds evacuated from path of cyclone

By LLOYD JONES

Evacuees from the path of a cyclone feel safe but are anxious about the homes and pets they left behind as flood-hit Top End communities face a further deluge.

The defence force has evacuated almost 150 people from the Northern Territory community of Numbulwar, with hundreds more set to be flown out as Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches.

About 500 people overall are set to make a Darwin high school gymnasium their new home in the coming days as they ride out Narelle’s wrath.

The cyclone has weakened since crossing the far north Queensland coast early on Friday but is set to intensify in the Gulf of Carpentaria before entering the NT late on Saturday.

Evacuee Natasha Nundhirribala said members of her community were feeling safe after fearing what the wind and rain the cyclone would bring.

Natasha Nundhirribala says she feels safe after being evacuated from Numbulwar to Darwin. (Lloyd Jones/AAP PHOTOS)

She told media many had wanted to stay in their homes. “We’re near the beach and the tide is going to rise up and our jetty will probably be underwater,” she said.

Ms Nundhirribala said police still stationed in Numbulwar would watch out for the pets residents had left behind.

Steve Wilfred, who evacuated with his wife and five children, said the very high winds and heavy rain would make it dangerous and he was worried for his three dogs and two cats.

He said the evacuees hoped to be back in their community by Monday to start cleaning up.

The cyclone is set to pass Groote Eylandt on Saturday night with wind gusts up to 200km/h – strong enough to cut power, cause structural damage and fell trees.

Major flood warning

Narelle was set to weaken as it crossed the NT coast to become a category two system and eventually a tropical low as it quickly moved west, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Shenagh Gamble told reporters in Darwin on Friday.

Gulf communities, including Groote Eylandt, are on cyclone warnings to shelter in place and activate their emergency plans.

A major flood warning has been issued for the Katherine River, which is set to rise quickly from Sunday afternoon.

Nearby Katherine has been in clean-up mode since suffering its worst floods in almost 30 years but Narelle’s arrival has sparked fears it will be inundated again.

Flood watches have been issued across the Top End, with heavy rain expected to cause rivers and creeks to rise.

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