Cyclone Seroja: ‘Potential for widespread devastation is high’ in WA

WA authorities have warned that looming Cyclone Seroja may bring torrential rain and winds as strong as 150km/h on Sunday.

Some of the damage in the Geraldton area of WA caused by ex-tropical cyclone Mangga 11 months ago. Picture: City of Greater Geraldton

Authorities in Western Australia have issued a warning as Cyclone Seroja, which is predicted to lash the mid-west coast of the state with torrential rain and winds as strong as 150km/h, bears down on the coast.

WA Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby said authorities were preparing for devastation and urged the public to be ‘vigilant.

“The potential for widespread devastation is high,” he said.

“We hope that we can get through these next few days without loss of life and without serious property damage. We need to work on the basis of worst-case scenario.”

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist James Ashley said the “rare” weather event would hit the coast on Sunday before moving inland on Monday.

“People on the coast between Coral Bay [1200km north of Perth] and Lancelin should prepare for dangerous weather on Sunday,” he said.

“Coastal communities in the path of the cyclone can expect destructive winds and very intense rain that could cause significant damage to property.

“Cyclone Seroja is expected to cross the coast as a Category 2 on Sunday night with destructive winds up to 150km/h, close to the centre of the system as it crosses the coast.”

Mr Ashley warned that wind speeds of this level had the potential to damage homes and bring down infrastructure.

“Wind gusts of that strength are a very rare thing for the central part of the west coast,” he said.

“With and can cause minor house damage, and damage to trees and powerlines. The most likely area to experience the destructive winds is on the coast between Geraldton and Denham.

“Coastal communities between Coral Bay and Lancelin are urged to monitor warnings and be prepared for action.”

WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Craig Waters urged anyone camping or living in unstable structures to leave early.

“That’s why we’re asking the community, especially in the Midwest Gascoyne, if you’re residing in a tents or caravan park as a tourist, you must leave now,” he said.

“If you’re a property owner there, and your house is not prepared and you’re not prepared to stay to confront these extreme events, you need to get out now.”

Also on Saturday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Java island, according to the US Geological Survey, but no tsunami warning was issued.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the temblor shook Malang, a city of several million people.

“It was pretty strong and went for a long time,” resident Ida Magfiroh told AFP. “Everything was swaying.”

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

With AFP