A luxury wilderness resort in a remote part of Australia has been partially destroyed after taking a direct hit from a powerful tropical cyclone. Remarkably, two caretakers who sheltered in a specially designed underground bunker emerged completely unharmed from the devastating storm.
Storm Ravages Exclusive Retreat
Tropical Cyclone Fina, which had earlier rampaged across the Northern Territory, made landfall on the Western Australian coast on Monday night as a category three system. The cyclone all but flattened the exclusive Berkeley River Lodge, an isolated property accessible only by air or sea.
Owner Chris Banson confirmed on Tuesday that the property had sustained significant damage. Accommodation villas and key infrastructure were left in ruins by the storm's ferocious winds. 'The property has sustained significant damage,' Mr Banson stated. 'Importantly, our two on-site caretakers are safe.'
Underground Shelter Saves Lives
The two caretakers survived the direct hit by sheltering inside a 40-foot shipping container that had been buried underground and specially engineered to withstand intense cyclonic conditions. They were among only four people located within the official cyclone warning area when the storm crossed the coast.
Photographs from the scene reveal the extensive devastation, with one villa completely toppled onto its side, debris scattered across the coastal landscape, and trees stripped bare of their foliage. The resort's central lodge and staff accommodation buildings were also damaged in the storm.
Assessing the Damage and Ongoing Impact
Official assessments confirmed that three of the resort's 18 luxury villas were destroyed, with others suffering damage. The resort, which markets itself as offering 'barefoot luxury in one of the planet's most untouched frontiers,' had no guests present at the time of the cyclone.
Mr Banson further reported that water and power services were no longer operating and that the surrounding vegetation had been severely impacted. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is preparing to evacuate the two caretakers when conditions permit.
Meanwhile, the weather system continues to affect the region. Fina has since been downgraded to a tropical low as it tracks southwest through Western Australia's north. On Tuesday afternoon WA time, it was located approximately 115 kilometres northwest of Wyndham.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the region, predicting heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and dangerous tides and waves. The area could experience wind gusts up to 85km/h and six-hourly rainfall totals reaching 200mm.
The cyclone's impact was also felt strongly in the Northern Territory, where it was recorded as the strongest cyclone to hit Darwin in 50 years. Power was cut to approximately 17,000 homes and properties, though PowerWater reported that 85% of customers had been reconnected, with work continuing to restore power to the remaining 3,000 affected properties.
The NT government has announced it will make $250 disaster recovery hardship payments available to those impacted by the cyclone starting Wednesday. The Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, were among the hardest-hit areas, with widespread power outages, fallen trees, and significant structural damage to Tiwi College on Melville Island, which has been closed until further notice.
