Category five Cyclone Zelia moved towards Australia's resource-rich western coast on Friday, bringing predicted gusts of up to 290 kilometres per hour and prompting emergency alerts and port shutdowns.
Meteorologists reported that the intense tropical cyclone was slowly advancing south towards Port Hedland—one of the world’s major iron ore export hubs—with landfall anticipated in the afternoon.
"Winds reaching up to 290 kilometres per hour (180 miles per hour) are expected near the cyclone’s core as it reaches the coastline," the Australian Bureau of Meteorology stated.
Authorities warned residents about the potential for a dangerous storm surge as the cyclone approached land.
“Tides could rise well above normal levels, bringing damaging waves and severe flooding to some low-lying coastal areas,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in an update.
The cyclone was expected to make landfall near Port Hedland—located about 17 hours by road from Perth—before continuing inland across remote mining and cattle-farming regions.
Initially classified as a category five cyclone, Zelia was forecast to weaken to category four later in the evening.
Pilbara Ports confirmed that vessels had been moved, and operations had been suspended at key mineral export hubs, including Port Hedland, Port Dampier, and the oil and gas shipping facility on Varanus Island.
Emergency authorities in Western Australia advised those still in the cyclone's direct path to remain in the safest part of their homes, stressing that evacuation was no longer an option.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the northwest coastline of Western Australia experiences more cyclones than any other region in the country and has the highest cyclone frequency in the southern hemisphere.
The area is rich in natural resources, including iron ore, copper, and gold, and hosts some of Australia’s most significant mining operations.
Mining giant Rio Tinto stated that its ships and trains had been removed from ports in the affected region.
"It is too soon to determine how long port and rail operations will remain shut or what impact this will have," the company said in a statement on Thursday.
BDST: 1005 HRS, FEB 14, 2025
MSK
