Tornadoes, Cyclones and Earthquakes - Just Another Day Down Under

Everyone knows that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned so the Antipodeans must have somehow seriously disparaged Mother Nature. Yesterday afternoon Karratha was preparing to shelter from Cyclone Carlos – businesses shut early and everyone was on their way home to secure their homes and prepare to bunk down for a day or so. Little did we know that the weather was about to unleash its worst before Carlos was even close. As we were taping up windows and moving the wheelie bin and outdoor furniture into the shed, four freak tornadoes were ripping through residential streets and the shopping centre and sending the tops of palm trees and shopping trolleys into the public swimming pool. Houses lost their roofs, which went flying into nearby gardens, trees were torn from the ground, ending up smashing their way through people’s windows. At least one woman was hospitalised when her front window was hit by debris and smashed into smithereens around her. Boats and caravans were picked up and sent flying through the air as if they were toys.


The freak tornadoes came from nowhere and people caught outside rushed to find somewhere, anywhere to shelter. It lasted mere minutes but caused devastation and those hit were left with the knowledge that their damaged roofs would be under the force of cyclone-strength winds and rain over the next 24 hours. I still don’t know how the home of our friends has fared as we are on red alert meaning we can’t leave the house, and the mobile phone networks are down. Luckily, they were still on their way back home when it happened so they were unharmed but they now have holes in their roof, leaving their furniture and treasured possessions without cover. We lost TV signal early on and so had had absolutely no idea that any of this had happened until they phoned us, despite the fact we live only a mile or so from the epicentre of the destruction. We’re just praying that come tomorrow morning further disaster hasn’t been metered out by Cyclone Carlos.

We of course then woke this morning to the news of Christchurch’s deadly earthquake a mere five months after the destruction caused by September’s earthquake in the city. Although this one was of a lower magnitude, it is already very clear that it will be far more disastrous. At least 65 are dead, hundreds more are still trapped, buildings have been decimated, and the iconic cathedral is crumbling. Seriously Mother Nature, give us a break.