Key iron ore ports along Australia’s north-west coast were closed as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensified and moved closer to the resource-rich Pilbara region, the country’s national weather bureau said on Sunday.
Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export hub, was shut along with nearby ports at Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier and Varanus Island after the cyclone developed off the coast of Western Australia. Pilbara Ports said the closures were implemented on Saturday as a precautionary measure amid the growing storm threat.
By Sunday, Mitchell had strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone, generating wind gusts of up to 195 kilometres per hour. The weather bureau warned that systems of this intensity can cause structural damage, fell trees, destroy crops and lead to power outages.
Forecasters expect the cyclone to make landfall between the coastal towns of Exmouth and Onslow late on Sunday or early Monday morning local time. Authorities also warned of widespread moderate to heavy rainfall along the west Pilbara coast, raising the risk of flash flooding.
Located about 1,300 kilometres north of Perth, Port Hedland is a vital export gateway for miners including BHP Group, Fortescue and Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.
Pilbara Ports said it had begun clearing port facilities on Friday as cyclone risks escalated.