Cyclone Ilsa in pictures: Residents evacuated as cyclone bears down on WA coast

Residents of Bidyadanga ready for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa on Thursday.

The city, 190 kilometres south of Broome, is Western Australia’s largest distant Indigenous group.

Further south in Port Hedland, Mayor Peter Carter was assured his city was adequately ready.

“We know it’s very close off the coast, but at the moment, it’s very surreal,” Carter instructed 9News late on Thursday evening.

“It’s like the calm before the storm. But we know what’s coming and our residents are prepared for it and ready for it.”