Australia Marks 50 Years Since Cyclone Tracy's Devastation in Darwin

Commemorations honor victims and survivors of the deadliest storm in Australian history, which destroyed most of Darwin on Christmas Day 1974.

Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin in the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, killing 66 people and destroying over 80% of the city's buildings.
The storm triggered Australia's largest peacetime evacuation, with over 36,000 residents relocated, and reconstruction efforts took years to restore the city.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined survivors and local leaders in Darwin to unveil a new memorial commemorating the lives lost and the resilience of the community.
Survivors recall harrowing experiences, including families sheltering in bathtubs and the profound emotional and social impacts of the disaster.
The tragedy led to nationwide improvements in building codes to better withstand cyclones, shaping Darwin into a modern, resilient city.