‘Too late to leave’: Warning as earthquake, Tropical Cyclone Sean smashes state

One state has been dealt a double blow as a tropical cyclone smashes the northern region, while residents in the south have been rocked by an earthquake.

Residents in parts of Western Australia have been told it is “too late to leave” as Tropical Cyclone Sean continues intensifying.

The weather system off the Pilbara coast has strengthened to a Category 3 as of early Monday afternoon, with 150km/h winds near the centre and gusts of up to 205km/h.

The Bureau of Metorology has warned the cyclone could reach Category 4 by Monday night.

The cyclone is about 205km northwest of Exmouth and is moving southwest away from the WA coastline, but gales were only slowly easing from the east.

Cyclone Sean weather warning. Picture: WeatherZone

Several people have been rescued after their vehicles became stuck in flood waters in WA’s northwest.

A DFES spokesman said they had received 37 requests for assistance across the Pilbara mostly for assistance with sandbagging and flooding.

BOM warned intense rainfall and flash flooding were possible between Mardie and the North West Cape for the remainder of Monday.

A flood warning was also issued for the Pilbara.

People living in areas likely to be affected by flooding were told to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

“Gales and damaging wind gusts to 120km/h are occurring at coastal and island communities between Ningaloo and Mardie, including Onslow and Exmouth,” a BOM spokesman said.

“Winds are expected to gradually ease from the east during the day.

“A storm tide is forecast between Onslow and Exmouth during Monday afternoon’s high tide.”

Tropical Cyclone Sean has formed near the Pilbara Coast. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Overnight, the strongest wind gusts recorded by the observing network were 113km/h in Barrow Island and Varanus Island.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued an emergency warning on Monday morning, telling residents from Barrow Island to Ningaloo to shelter in place, as it is “too late to leave”.

“There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately,” the DFES website read.

Residents have been advised to stay in the “strongest, safest part of the building” while the gale-force winds batter the region, with the community urged to “stay away from doors and windows and keep them closed”.

Western Australia has been battered by the cyclone. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Meanwhile, residents further south in WA’s Wheatbelt were rocked by an earthquake.

About 11.15am on Sunday morning in Meckering, about 130km east of Perth, residents from Mundaring to Meckering reported a loud bang, while tremors could be felt all the way to the eastern suburbs of Perth.

According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake occurred 5m below ground, resulting in widespread tremors spanning across the state.

A Geoscience Australia spokesman told NewsWire the earthquake was an aftershock to the damaging 1968 earthquake that hit the same region for 40 seconds, reaching a 6.5 on the Richter scale and causing extensive damage to buildings and several injuries.

Residents in the Pilbara region have been warned to stay inside while damaging winds blast the state. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

While the 1968 earthquake in Meckering caused extensive damage to the town, there have been no reports of injuries or damage caused by the 3.8 magnitude earthquake on Sunday.

“Meckering, back in 1968, had that magnitude 6.5 earthquake … since that large earthquake, it’s continued to see relatively high levels of activity,” the spokesman told NewsWire.

“This earthquake that we saw yesterday was a continuation of that … we would describe it as an aftershock.”

Danielle Cara, a resident in Clackline – some 50km away from Meckering – told Perth Now of the “loud rumbling” she heard on Sunday morning.

“My first thought was that it was the washing machine,” she told the outlet.
“Then I realised I hadn’t started the washing machine, so my next thought was, ‘Oh wow, it’s an earthquake’.”

Originally published as ‘Too late to leave’: Warning as earthquake, Tropical Cyclone Sean smashes state