Cyclone hits Australian coast

2006-01-09 18:41

Sydney - More than 1 500 people were evacuated on Monday as Cyclone Clare began to pummel Australia's northwest coast.

Communities in the Pilbara region had been placed on red alert as meteorologists predicted winds of up to 195km/h and waves high enough to breach coastal defences.

The state emergency service (SES) said: "A red alert means there is a significant risk that destructive winds will occur in your area soon and you should move immediately to shelter."

Cyclone Clare made landfall 100km north of Karratha. Allen Gale of the SES urged residents to take shelter and wait out the cyclone.

Gale said: "It's lockdown in Karratha while they are on red alert. The same goes for neighbouring communities."

Some oil and gas production platforms had been shut down as a precaution. Ports were closed and the main highway into Karratha had been declared out of bounds.

The cyclone season on the west coast is from November to April.

- SAPA