As the calendar edges toward the heart of the Southern Hemisphere’s storm season, two powerful natural events have captured the attention of residents across the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia’s Top End, Tropical Cyclone Fina barrels toward Darwin, threatening to become the earliest cyclone to make landfall in the Northern Territory since 1970. Meanwhile, across the Timor Sea, Indonesia’s Semeru volcano has erupted, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to its highest and urging nearby communities to keep their distance.
For Darwin, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation—and a little anxiety. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Cyclone Fina formed off the Northern Territory and intensified into a category two system late on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. But forecasters warn the danger may not stop there. "These systems move erratically and there is always a possibility that it may intensify into a category three system as it makes its way toward the coast,” said meteorologist Jude Scott, as reported by AAP News.
All eyes are on the cyclone’s projected path, which has it making landfall early Saturday, November 22, 2025. That timing marks the earliest a cyclone has struck the region in over half a century. As of Wednesday, Fina was moving northeast, but forecasters predicted a dramatic U-turn on Thursday, sending the storm back toward the Northern Territory coast and the Tiwi Islands. After crossing the Cobourg Peninsula, Fina is expected to move into the Van Diemen Gulf before making a second landfall near Darwin.
Residents have responded with a flurry of activity. Supermarket shelves, once full of bottled water and emergency supplies, now stand empty as people prepare to bunker down. The Northern Territory’s emergency operations centre sprang into action on Wednesday, and regional emergency committees mobilized. Authorities dispatched extra police to the Tiwi Islands and other remote communities, ensuring shelters were ready and stocked with food, water, and backup batteries. Volunteer emergency response units, too, were placed on high alert. "The safest advice we can give you is if your house is built to code then stay in your home," said NT Emergency Services Chief Officer Wayne Snell, urging residents to have a cyclone plan and keep their emergency kits ready.
For Darwin, the memories of past cyclones are never far from the surface. The city last experienced a cyclone in March 2018, when category two system Marcus cut power to nearly 29,000 properties—an event still fresh in the minds of many. But perhaps the most haunting memory is Cyclone Tracey, which devastated Darwin on Christmas Day in 1974, killing 66 people and leaving the city in ruins. With Fina’s approach, the sense of déjà vu is palpable, even if the circumstances differ.
As the week wears on, the weather is expected to take a turn for the worse. Showers and storms are set to intensify on Friday night, November 21, with winds ramping up into Saturday and the threat of storm surges looming over coastal areas. Category two cyclones are no joke—they can produce wind gusts of 125 km/h to 164 km/h, causing minor house damage, significant crop, sign, tree, and caravan damage, and, of course, power cuts. The advice from authorities is clear: stay informed, stay prepared, and shelter in place if possible.
But while Australia prepares for Fina’s arrival, Indonesia faces a different kind of natural threat. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Semeru volcano on Java Island erupted, spewing ash clouds as high as 2 kilometers above its peak. The eruption prompted Indonesia’s volcanology agency to raise the alert level for Semeru to its highest, as reported by Reuters. Residents have been advised to keep at least 2.5 kilometers away from the volcano due to the risks of further eruptions and ashfall.
Standing more than 3,600 meters (12,000 feet) high, Semeru is the tallest mountain on Java Island and one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The country straddles the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," a region notorious for its seismic volatility. Here, tectonic plates meet and grind, producing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For Indonesians, living with the threat of volcanic activity is a fact of life, but each new eruption brings with it fresh challenges and anxieties.
The eruption of Semeru is a stark reminder of the region’s geological dynamism. Ash clouds can disrupt air travel, impact agriculture, and pose serious health risks to those living nearby. The decision to raise the alert level to its maximum reflects the seriousness of the situation. Authorities have urged residents to heed warnings and maintain a safe distance, as the potential for further eruptions remains high.
In both Australia and Indonesia, the response from authorities has been swift and coordinated. In the Northern Territory, preparations for Cyclone Fina have included activating emergency operations, deploying police and volunteers, and providing clear guidance to the public. In Indonesia, the volcanology agency’s rapid escalation of Semeru’s alert level and its clear communication to residents underscore the importance of vigilance in the face of natural disasters.
Yet, even with all the planning and preparation, there’s an undeniable sense of uncertainty. Weather systems and volcanoes are notoriously unpredictable, and the best-laid plans can sometimes be upended by a sudden change in conditions. For residents of Darwin, the coming days will be marked by anxious monitoring of weather updates, last-minute preparations, and a collective hope that Fina’s impact will be less severe than feared. For those living near Semeru, the focus will be on staying safe, avoiding ashfall, and listening closely to official advice.
It’s a sobering time for communities across the region. The approach of Cyclone Fina and the eruption of Semeru serve as powerful reminders of nature’s force and unpredictability. But they also highlight the resilience and preparedness of those who call these dynamic landscapes home. As authorities, emergency workers, and ordinary citizens band together, the hope is that—come next week—both Darwin and Java will have weathered the storms and eruptions with minimal harm and a renewed sense of community spirit.
