Massive cyclone lashes Aus

2005-03-16 10:28

Perth - A massive cyclone with wind gusts up to 260 kph battered Australia's sparsely populated northwest coast on Wednesday after flattening island communities in its path over the past week.

Cyclone Ingrid lashed the remote community of Kalumburu early on Wednesday, and early reports indicated damage in the area.

"We're waiting for the winds to abate so people can get outside and do correct damage assessments so we can actually get a full picture," state emergency service volunteer Allen Gale told Australia's Nine television network.

Cyclone Ingrid first crossed Australia's northeastern coast last Thursday and has tracked west across land and sea, destroying several homes and buildings on three islands. There have been no reported injuries.

Gale said Kalumburu's 330 residents were well-prepared for Ingrid's arrival, clearing debris from their yards and transferring 14 elderly and infirm residents to the nearby larger centre of Kununurra until the storm passes.

The cyclone also devastated a luxury resort at Faraway Bay on the Western Australia coast, flattening buildings and tossing several dinghies 400 metres from their moorings.

Resort owner Bruce Ellison said the resort's eight cabins, workshop, staff accommodation and generator shed were completely demolished by the cyclone, which struck late on Tuesday.

"It's total devastation," Ellison said on Wednesday, estimating the damage bill to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ingrid was moving southwest over Western Australia state at a speed of up to 10 kilometres per hour.

Rob Vanleeuwen from the Broome Meteorological Office said the storm was expected to weaken as it moved inland.

- AP