From Landlocked Roots to Cyclone Concerns: Kunzang's Journey to Darwin

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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.

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.