Severe storms from Tropical Cyclone Fina caused part of the roof at Royal Darwin Hospital to collapse, authorities confirmed. The four-by-four-metre section of ceiling fell overnight, but no injuries were reported and patient care was not affected, according to Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
Finocchiaro said the hospital was operating as usual after engineers assessed the damage. The cyclone, which intensified to a category four system, brought sustained winds of 165 km/h and gusts up to 230 km/h, leaving more than 19,000 homes and businesses without power across the region.
The worst-hit area was Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island, where power outages are expected to last longer. Diesel generators are being used as backup. Schools remain closed while principals inspect buildings for safety.
Residents in Darwin have been clearing debris, with neighbours helping each other using chainsaws and gardening tools. The warning zone extends from Wadeye to Dundee Beach in the Northern Territory and across the border to Troughton Island in Western Australia.
