Tropical cyclone Seroja weakened Monday, allowing a clean-up drive to begin in parts of Western Australia where the storm left houses "smashed flat" and power lines down.
The Aftermath of Seroja
The storm made landfall in Western Australia overnight after a severe weather warning placed on the southeast forced residents to take shelter or evacuate their homes.
Volunteer groups and government workers have started the clean-up drive in the aftermath of the storm, but 9News reporter Darius Winterfield said the "trail of destruction is widespread."
Numerous reports of structural damage were reported in different locations, with the State Emergency Service (SES) estimating that at least one-fifth of homes in the area had their roofs damaged or blown away.
For 12 hours, more than 167mm (6.5 inches) of rain fell over the region, and winds of up to 170km/h (105 miles per hour) were recorded on the northern part of the Western Australian coast of Geraldton.
Seroja has been downgraded into a tropical low, but the storm made sure to leave a trail of downed power lines, fallen trees, and misplaced roofs, and broken fences.
KALBARRI: #9News viewer Courtney has sent through these photos of her grandparents house, destroyed by #CycloneSeroja.
The fast moving storm hit Kalbarri just after 7pm last night, with wind gusts up to 170km/h. #9News pic.twitter.com/nrOPRVjR5B - 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) April 12, 2021
In a tweet, West Australian journalist Caitlyn Rintoul wrote that "Kalbarri counts cost of Cyclone Seroja's fury." Kalbarri, home to 1,400 people, is a popular resort town on the west coast of Australia. Resorts saw significant damage, including broken windows and torn roofs.
'Not much left': Kalbarri counts cost of Cyclone Seroja's fury @westaustralian #wanews #perthnews https://t.co/r6pffWIPUK - Caitlyn Rintoul (@caitlynrintoul) April 12, 2021
Southeast Still in Alert
On Monday, the SES and other concerned agencies said it was too early to measure the extent of damages brought about by the tropical cyclone.
The Bureau of Meteorology also warned that peak winds of 110km/h were still expected throughout Monday even as the storm has already weakened. The southeast remains on "red alert" and thousands of homes are still without power.
Seroja's track across WA first as a Cat 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone crossing the coast & eventually as a Tropical Low. No more severe weather is expected. We will continue to serve the communities affected and work with all relevant agencies to help with recovery efforts as we can pic.twitter.com/N9gYxDKr3T - Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) April 12, 2021
Evacuation facilities have been opened across the region ahead of Seroja's landfall, particularly for residents from north of Perth who were largely affected.
Australian Premier Mark McGowan said Sunday that Seroja was "like nothing we have seen before in decades," adding that the government is already expecting "significant damage" after the storm passes.
It will take Time to Assist Residents
As photos and videos of Seroja's wrath emerge online, it is expected that rescue operations and disaster response will take up to several days.
Emergency services minister Reece Whitby said it would "take time" to assess affected locations, "make sure everything is safe," and ensure that downed power lines do not pose a threat to residents.
On the other hand, it is expected that assessment will begin later on Monday, when crews are permitted to fly around Kalbarri, Geraldton, and nearby towns.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services it received more than 180 calls overnight. Majority of the calls were from Kalbarri residents.
