On this date in 1899, one of the deadliest natural disasters in Australian history struck the country’s northeast coast when Cyclone Mahina unleashed a catastrophic storm surge that claimed hundreds of lives and set a world record for surge height.
The powerful cyclone made landfall near Bathurst Bay, generating an estimated storm surge of up to 13 meters (around 43 feet). The surge remains the highest ever recorded from a tropical cyclone, according to historical studies and records referenced by Guinness World Records.
At the time, the region was home to a large pearling fleet. The violent winds and massive waves destroyed more than 100 vessels anchored in the bay, leaving little chance for survival. Historical accounts estimate that more than 300 people died, including sailors and local Indigenous communities.
The extreme surge pushed seawater several kilometers inland, sweeping away camps and ships and leaving widespread devastation along the coast of Cape York Peninsula.
Experts believe the unusual geography of Bathurst Bay and the cyclone’s intense pressure and wind speeds combined to create the unprecedented surge. Even more than a century later, Cyclone Mahina is frequently cited by meteorologists as one of the most powerful and destructive storms ever recorded in Australia.
