Storm creates havoc

Yet another fierce storm swept through the Ord Valley last week creating even more damage in Kununurra and in the rural area.

The storm on Wednesday afternoon trashed banana crops, uprooted trees and created a huge dust storm.

At the time of going to press the Bureau of Meteorology was unable to supply data of wind speeds, but many residents believe wind speeds exceeded the two other storms that have lashed the valley this season.

This would make the wind speed a record.

People sheltering in the bus shelter near the Kununurra Visitors' Centre were lucky to escape injury when a large tree crashed down on the structure.

A large tree at the Mercure Inn was uprooted and another in Lemonwood Drive damaged the roof of a house.

Elsewhere trees were stripped of their foliage and had limbs torn off.

The storm may mark the end of banana growing as a viable enterprise in the Ord Valley.