It tok 6 hours for cyclone Alexina to pass over Barunia, but the storm has left devastation in its wake on a scale far in excess of what was predicted. Alexina passed over the south coast of Barunia Island and then crossed the strait to Marion. Areas affected by the cyclone include the city of Sheppardton and its surrounds, inland to Albriciton, Mortonville and the Black Coast in West Barunia; and in Marion Fairweather and its surrounds, Mt Rowe and Carolin Peak and the west coast to D'Orlando Bay. Other parts of Marion, including Edwardton and Odessa, were also affected by the storm, but to a lesser scale.
Sheppardton was the first place to be hit, and it was on a grand scale. Wind speeds of over 250km/h hit the coastal city, ripping the roofs off buildings and toppling walls. Cars were slammed into walls, boats were overturned, and caravans simply disappeared. Trees were uprooted and power poles and signs were plucked out of the ground still attached to their concrete anchors and became missiles. But while the wind caused much destruction, the biggest threat to the city came from the rain, which came in sheets and caused the Sheppard river to burst its banks, despite sandbag reinforcing having been laid down, sometimes up to two metres high. The widespread flooding has left 40% of the city underwater, with only the roofs of some buildings showing. There have been two recorded fatalities as a result of the cyclone, however the death toll is expected to rise as rescue and clean-up efforts get underway this morning.
Elsewhere in West Barunia, flooding has affected townships further up the Sheppardton river, and the township of Mortonville had its police station, which was being used as a disaster command centre, flattened by a large tree. At least one house along the Black Coast was literally blown into the sea as Alexina left West Barunia on its way to Marion.
The city of Fairweather became poorly named as Alexina hit the high cliffs near the Bay of Good Fortune. The city was saved some of the destruction that was wreaked on Sheppardton, but still copped a battering as the cyclone ripped through the inland portion of the city, tearing up everything in its path. Once again, roofs, cars and trees were all ripped from their moorings and flung into the air to cause destruction wherever they landed.
The cyclone continued through Marion, and some reports suggest several houses have slipped down the sides of the mountain. Along the west coast, many fishermen may face an uncertain future after their boats were overturned, and the navy reported the destruction of sensitive equipment at Pirate's Cove. Cyclone Alexina faded out over Mount Marion and headed into the sea, dumping a load of rain on Odessa as it went and causing some damage to trees and power lines in that township.
The clean-up effort has already begun in both West Barunia and Marion, with four navy ships loaded with humanitarian supplies visiting the affected areas. In Sheppardton though, the clean-up has become a rescue effort as workers attempt to save people from the flood waters. Emergency service personnel are pouring into Sheppardton from all over Barunia to help, while in Marion, rescuers attempt to clear a road back up to Mt Rowe to assess the situation. In both cities, the focus remains less on repairing the physical destruction, and more on helping those affected by this terrible disaster.
