In pictures | Houses were swept out to sea in Newfoundland and Labrador

*Follow our exclusive coverage of Hurricane Fiona’s arrival on the Canadian coast with our journalists in Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Halifax*

Hurricane Fiona wreaked havoc on the small coastal town of Port aux Basques in Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday.

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Authorities declared a state of emergency early Saturday.

While some residences dealt with major flooding or electrical fires, other homes were simply washed away by the ocean.

Several residents of Port aux Basques posted pictures of the damage on social media, where flooding and crumbling buildings could be seen.

Around 11:30 a.m., the city asked its citizens to “refrain from dangerous behavior” such as taking photos and videos in flooded areas.

“This is unsafe. Residents are putting themselves and first responders at unnecessary risk,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tweeted.

The city’s mayor, Brian Button, supports these recommendations. “A house can be replaced, but you can’t,” he also said in a Facebook Live video.

“You must leave. The houses have already been washed away. You must leave now,” ordered the mayor.

Regional meteorologists predict wind and water levels will remain high until at least Saturday evening. “We’re still seeing very strong winds, particularly in southwest Newfoundland. We expect these winds to continue to be very strong through Saturday evening,” said Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist David Neal.