At 0515 this morning, westerly wind gusts at speeds of up to 150 km/h blew off a section of roofing from the mess building, causing minor flooding of the floor.

All 19 wintering expeditioners at Macquarie Island are safe and uninjured, and the kitchen remains operational.

Expeditioners are waiting for winds to ease and weather conditions to improve before clearing debris, assessing the roof damage, and commencing repairs.

Macquarie Island is a windswept World Heritage-listed island in the Southern Ocean, halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica.

Australia has operated a permanent research station on ‘Macca’ since 1948.