Tropical cyclone Seroja rips through WA tourist town Kalbarri

Residents living in the tiny tourist town of Kalbarri have been left devastated after ex-tropical cyclone Seroja ripped through the community.

Residents living in the tiny tourist town of Kalbarri have been left devastated after ex-tropical cyclone Seroja ripped through the community in Western Australia.

The cyclone caused “widespread and severe” damage to the popular tourist destination, with Premier Mark McGowan saying he was “heartbroken” by the destruction where a staggering 70 per cent of homes were damaged.

Located seven hours north of Perth, Kalbarri is a resort town at the mouth of the Murchison River, on Western Australia’s coast.

It’s known for its seaside cliffs, estuary beach and wild pelicans. Nearby Kalbarri National Park has rocky gorges like the iconic Z Bend, named for a sharp bend in the river.

The park’s coast is also home to resident dolphins and seasonal humpback whales, seen from a boardwalk beside the Island Rock and Natural Bridge rock forms.

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Kalbarri WA cyclone damage. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

The horror of the destruction. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

Damaged buildings along the Kalbarri foreshore. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

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Speaking to 9 News, some residents and tourism traders fear they will never be able to reopen following the cyclone chaos, which caused flash flooding, downed trees and recorded wind gusts of 120km/h.

“I’ve seen cyclones before but this was a real hummer,” Kalbarri resident Steve Wiseman said, adding that his “kitchen is still standing – but not much else”.

While no one was injured during the impact of the ex-cyclone, one in five homes had their roof peeled back.

Mr McGowan said the recovery effort will be extensive for the town.

“Emergency crews have been working through the day to assess damage and restore power, it is too early to provide a complete picture of the total damage,” Mr McGowan said.

Ferocious winds of 120km/h hit the suburb of Kalbarri. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

Numerous homes in the town were destroyed. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

Kalbarri’s foreshore is littered with debris. Picture: Yvonne McKenzie/Getty Images

“Western Australians are thinking of those people affected, we are all with you, ready to help in any way we can, the next few days however, will be very tough and difficult.”

After a year of border closures, and with the town relying on domestic travel to boost the region, some say they fear their businesses won’t be able to recover.

Wayne Forrest, who owns an IGA in the area, said his store is a “ a complete mess”.

“It just looks like a bombs gone off. Whole place is wrecked,” he said.

Nine reporter Darius Winterfield, who was in Kalbarri during the storm, said it looked like “a bomb had gone off” in the region.

“The trail of destruction is widespread,” he said.

“Almost everywhere you look, it seems as though no structure has been saved from the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Seroja.”

Ex-tropical cyclone Seroja has now made its way into the Great Australian Bight and out to sea, dashing hopes for any desired boost to rainfall in the southeast.