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Cyclone Seroja rips apart Carnarvon’s historic One Mile Jetty and damages Monkey Mia Resort roof

Brianna DuganThe West Australian
RAC Monkey Mia resort has had part of its roof blown off, as tropical cyclone Seroja barrages the coast.
Camera IconRAC Monkey Mia resort has had part of its roof blown off, as tropical cyclone Seroja barrages the coast. Credit: 7NEWS

Carnarvon’s historic One Mile Jetty has been ripped apart by tropical cyclone Seroja.

The cyclone’s ferocious winds have also ripped part of the roof off the Monkey Mia Resort.

The Tropical Cyclone has been upgraded to a category three severity, while the red alert has been extended further down the Mid-Gascoyne coastline as of 3pm.

Those in the red zones are being told to stay indoors and to not leave their homes, as it's now too late.

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The unique weather system is predicted to bring a significant storm surge along the parts of the Shark Bay coast and Denham, and wind gusts of up to 165km/h are expected.

The jetty was destroyed just after lunch time todaywith strong winds and high tides tearing the bridge apart at the middle.

Left, the former jetty and right, the jetty was destroyed by the cyclone this afternoon.
Camera IconLeft, the former jetty and right, the jetty was destroyed by the cyclone this afternoon. Credit: Supplied/Angus Mackintosh/Twitter

Residents have taken to social media to share their heartbreak over the loss in their close-knit community.

One resident took to Facebook expressing his sadness over the memorable jetty.

“As a kid growing up in Carnarvon, this is sad to see. Many fond memories camping and fishing,” the man said.

Another resident shared her heart-ache and said this is an end to “a huge part of our history”.

“The jetty might be gone, but memories last forever,” she said.

Carnarvon residents have said they are “devastated by this loss”, and it’s a “very sad day for the town”.

Tropical cyclone Seroja blowing trees in Coral Bay.
Camera IconTropical cyclone Seroja blowing trees in Coral Bay.

Premier Mark McGowan has warned residents that cyclone Seroja would be “like nothing we have seen in decades”.

“Live and homes are at risk. We expect significant damage. I urge everyone to take this situation seriously,” Mr McGowan said.

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson urged people to take care around fallen power lines and linked the electrocution death of a man in Coral Bay yesterday to the storm.

“Regrettably, we have had one person lose their life at Coral Bay yesterday. A 38-year-old man was found dead near a pole that had fallen over,” he said.

“We do not want any more lives lost in this situation.”

Video of the storm in Carnarvon.
Camera IconVideo of the storm in Carnarvon. Credit: Janice Baird/Supplied

The jetty — which was constructed in 1897 for wool and livestock export to Fremantle.

By 1904 the head of the jetty was added and in 1912 the jetty widened to accommodate for the increased traffic in the area.

Carnarvon was the first port in the world which loaded livestock onboard ships for transport to markets — and holds the record for longest jetty in the north of WA.

The One Mile Jetty was also notorious for its animals races, where competitors would race sheep for the entire length of the jetty.

After road train transport commenced the jetty fell into disrepair, until 1998 where the Carnarvon community banded together to save the longest jetty in the north.

The jetty was heritage listed soon after, and has been preserved ever since.

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