Members of the Tongan diaspora in North Queensland, Australia, are preparing for a dangerous night as Cyclone Koji bears down on the region, with landfall expected about 4am on Sunday near Townsville.
North Queensland is on high alert after the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed late Saturday that a tropical low in the Coral Sea had intensified into a category-2 system and been named Koji.
The cyclone is forecast to cross the coast between Townsville and Bowen in the early hours of Sunday.
“Tropical Cyclone Koji is located in the Coral Sea offshore of the North Tropical Coast and is moving south towards the Queensland coast,” BOM said in its evening warning.
“Koji, a category 2 system, is forecast to continue on a similar south track until crossing the coast. The coastal crossing is forecast for early Sunday morning between Townsville and Bowen. After crossing, Koji will weaken and then track generally westwards.”
Residents across the region have been warned to expect damaging winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding.
The threat is being closely watched by Tongans across Australia and the Pacific, as North Queensland is home to a significant number of Tongan families, many working in agriculture, construction, and regional industries.
According to the 2021 Census, 9,491 people in Queensland identified as Tongan, a sharp increase from 2011, with much of the Tongan diaspora in Australia concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland.
Community leaders in Townsville and surrounding areas have been urging families to secure homes, check emergency supplies, and stay in contact through church and social networks.
As Cyclone Koji approaches, relatives in Tonga, New Zealand and the wider diaspora are monitoring developments anxiously, hoping those in its path remain safe through the night.
