More than 2000 residents have been evacuated from Northern Territory communities located in the path of a massive tropical cyclone.
Cyclone Trevor is likely to cross the Northern Territory coast on Saturday as a category four severe tropical cyclone throwing out gale-force winds, rain and tidal surges 300 kilometres from its eye and is headed towards the town of Borroloola.
A state of emergency has been declared in the Gulf country, with schools closed and police able to order people to evacuate and close roads and businesses.
The tropical cyclone warning was in place for Groote Eylandt on Thursday night, which was expected to feel the effects.
A flood watch was issued for the Carpentaria Coastal Rivers and Barkly regions with predicted rainfalls of 150-250mm on Saturday and isolated falls to 300mm along the coast on dry ground following a poor wet season.
Anxious residents worried about their homes and pets were evacuated by road and on Australia Defence Force cargo planes from Borroloola, Numbulwar, Groote Eylandt and other Indigenous communities.
"We've used buses, vehicles, ferries, planes, helicopters and anything else in between we can get out hands on," police regional controller Travis Wurst said.
They have begun arriving in Darwin and Katherine where sleeping facilities including tent cities have been set up.
It is the largest evacuation prior to a cyclone in the territory's history and largest type of any evacuation since Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
The severity and threat of the storm, as well as complications with the remoteness of the area, led to the decision to evacuate, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Thursday.
Trevor left behind trail of destruction in Queensland's Cape York peninsula earlier this week, uprooting trees, causing flooding and roof damage, closing schools and roads, and downing power lines.
It is gathering intensity again as it moves over the hot waters in the Gulf.
Very destructive winds, with gusts of over 260 km/h, heavy rainfall and a dangerous storm tide are expected near the cyclone centre as it approaches and crosses the coast, said the bureau's Todd Smith.
Mr Smith has not ruled out the cyclone strengthening to a category five with winds of more than 300km/h.
ADF aircraft move in
Australian Defence Force Hercules' aircraft are being used to transport people, who have begun arriving in Darwin and Katherine where indoor sleeping facilities are being set up at local showgrounds.
That includes creating barriers to ensure Indigenous cultural protocols are followed and people are spoken to in local languages.
"We've used buses, vehicles, ferries, planes, helicopters and anything else in between we can get out hands on," police regional controller Travis Wurst said.
About 600 out of Groote Eyland's population of 2800 have been evacuated but authorities are now focusing on Borroloola, with a population of 900.
The evacuations are starting with the most vulnerable and people who are not evacuated in time will be moved into emergency shelters.
"We have the capacity and capability to look after them as long as we need to, until water and power are safe again and houses are habitable again," Mr Gunner said.
Trail of destruction
Trevor left behind trail of destruction in Queensland's Cape York peninsula earlier this week, uprooting trees, caused flooding and roof damage, closed schools and roads and downed power lines.
Trevor lashed the Aurukun community overnight and some 180 homes remain without power on Thursday as residents began cleaning up.
