More than 1 500 people were evacuated on Monday as Cyclone Clare began to pummel Australia’s north-west coast.
Communities in the Pilbara region have been placed on red alert as meteorologists predicted winds of up to 195kph and waves high enough to breach coastal defences.
”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,” the State Emergency Service (SES) said in a statement.
Cyclone Clare made landfall 100km north of Karratha.
SES spokesperson Allen Gale urged residents to take shelter and wait out the cyclone.
”It’s lockdown in Karratha whilst they are on red alert,” Gale told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ”The same goes for neighbouring communities.”
Some oil and gas production platforms have been shut down as a precaution. Ports are closed and the main highway into Karratha has been declared out of bounds.
From November to April, the cyclone season affects Australia’s west coast. — Sapa-DPA