Kunzang Dorgi has never lived near the ocean, so he doesn’t know what to expect as the first cyclone of the season approaches northern Australia, prompting a warning for destructive winds.
He only moved to Darwin three months ago, his first time overseas.
“When I hear about the cyclone, I feel a bit nervous because I don’t really know what a cyclone is because in (Bhutan) we don’t have oceans and seas. We got a small stream and river,” he told SBS while making a delivery for a family preparing for Cyclone Fina.

Dorgi, 35, is currently without a permanent position, so he fills his days working part-time delivering online orders and assisting as a packer at a local pharmacy.

A stormy ocean

Meanwhile, fierce storms are battering the Northern Territory’s Top End, with turbulent waves crashing along Nightcliff Beach and Jetty in Darwin. Source: AAP / Neve Brissenden

Living with his wife and their 14-month-old daughter, Dorgi has taken precautions at home to brace for the impact of Cyclone Fina.

The NT government has been offered federal help as it prepares for Cyclone Fina, which weakened to a category one system overnight.
Darwin has been placed in a “warning zone” amid fears the system could intensify into a destructive category three system later on Friday.
“What I would say to Northern Territory communities right now is your fellow Australians are with you,” federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
Top End residents have been stocking up on basics, with bottled water, bread, canned goods and other household supplies flying off supermarket shelves.
Darwin locals have been warned to brace for winds that could damage houses and vehicles, fell trees and cut power while “throwing around the outdoor furniture”.
Early on Friday, Cyclone Fina was sustaining winds near the centre of 75km/h, with gusts up to 100km/h, and was about 335km north-east of Darwin, moving slowly.

Expressing concern, he mentioned to SBS, “We’re worried because we’re far from our family.”

It is set to continue south-west through the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday, heading just to the north of Darwin.
There was a chance it could reach category 3 intensity late on Friday or early Saturday as it moved into the Gulf, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A warning zone was in place early on Friday for Darwin, the Tiwi Islands and Cape Hotham to Warruwi, including the Cobourg Peninsula, Minjilang and Gunbalanya.
Strong winds are expected to extend further west, including the Tiwi Islands, late on Friday, and Darwin on Saturday.

The cyclone has the potential to strengthen into a category 2 storm as it moves southwest on Friday, with its path nearing the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwi Islands.

Empty supermarket shelves in the bottled water aisle with only a few drinks left and signs saying the store is out of water.

Store shelves were left empty after Darwin residents stocked up on bottled water and other supplies. Source: AAP / Lloyd Jones

The bureau warned heavy rain could cause flash flooding in coastal areas between the Tiwis and Warruwi from Friday, extending to the coast and nearby inland areas, including Darwin, on Saturday.

Coastal residents on the Tiwis and between Cape Hotham and Warruwi are warned of a dangerous storm tide.
Top End residents have been stocking up on basics with bottled water, bread, canned goods and other household supplies flying off supermarket shelves.
Multiple weekend sports and entertainment events have also been cancelled.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said Darwin residents could expect potentially damaging winds on Saturday from lunchtime.

“Those very strong winds could bring down trees, cause damage to vehicles and houses and it could lead to power outages, throwing around the outdoor furniture, fences and roof panels,” he said.

Rain will also intensify across Darwin on Saturday, leading to potential flash flooding.
By late Sunday, conditions in the Top End will start to ease as Fina moves into Western Australia.
The cyclone should no longer impact NT by Wednesday, Hines said.
Darwin residents have been urged to ensure they have an emergency plan and to shelter at home, with most buildings made to withstand cyclones.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press

You May Also Like
Alice Springs Police

Lidia Thorpe Emotional as Police Decide Against Charges in Custody Death Investigation

Nearly a year after the tragic death of Kumanjayi White while in…
Parliament House security and AFP remove pro-Palestine protestors from the marble foyer of Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 26 May 2026.

Demonstrators Halt Parliament House Operations: Unprecedented Protest Disrupts Proceedings

Around 50 demonstrators gathered at Parliament House in Canberra, prompting authorities to…
Mr Morrison's most famous debacle was sneaking out of the country to holiday with his family in Hawaii in the midst of the 2019-20 bushfires crisis

Could Scott Morrison’s Missteps Impact His Re-election Bid?

As Scott Morrison faces the electorate, he is acutely aware that any…
Trump's demand stuns Arab leaders into silence

Trump’s Bold Request Leaves Arab Leaders Speechless

On Monday, President Trump paid tribute to U.S. service members at Arlington…

Australian Business Leaders Warn of Potential Talent Drain to New Zealand and USA Amid Economic Concerns

Entrepreneurial Australians may be lured abroad to New Zealand or the United…

Tragic Gaza Strike: Israeli Attack Claims Lives of Six-Year-Old Girl and Woman

IN BRIEF The airstrike hit a tent encampment of displaced families in…
Kelsey Waghorn was a 25-year-old tour guide and one of 47 people on New Zealand's White Island when it erupted on December 9, 2019. She has written a book about that day and its aftermath. She is pictured IN April 2020 showing some of her injuries

Surviving White Island: Kelsey Waghorn’s Harrowing Tale of Resilience Amidst Tragedy

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES Deep within the island lies a duo of streams…

Tokyo Shopping Center Incident: Suspected Spray Attack Hospitalizes 24

IN BRIEF More than 25 people were taken to the hospital after…

Iranian Diplomat Engages in Peace Negotiations in Qatar Amid US and Iran’s Tempered Expectations

In a stunning feat of athleticism and strategy, the recent showdown on…
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg enjoys a sausage with son Blake after voting on Saturday

Election Shockwaves: Peter Dutton and Josh Frydenberg Face Defeat as Liberal Party Eyes New Leadership

The political landscape for the Liberal Party’s emerging leaders appears increasingly precarious,…

Iran’s Supreme Leader Declares End to Gulf Region’s Role as ‘Shields’ for US Military Bases

In a groundbreaking shift, the world of technology is witnessing rapid advancements…

Tragic Collision in Belgium: Train Accident with School Bus Claims Four Lives

‘Barrier closed’