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Cyclone Lua nears north-west Australia coast | Cyclone Lua nears north-west Australia coast |
(40 minutes later) | |
A tropical cyclone is intensifying as it bears down on Western Australia's north-west coast, forecasters warn. | A tropical cyclone is intensifying as it bears down on Western Australia's north-west coast, forecasters warn. |
Severe tropical cyclone Lua - upgraded to a category four storm - is threatening communities with torrential rain and winds up to 160km/h (100mph). | Severe tropical cyclone Lua - upgraded to a category four storm - is threatening communities with torrential rain and winds up to 160km/h (100mph). |
It is expected to make landfall in the next few hours between Port Hedland and Broome. | It is expected to make landfall in the next few hours between Port Hedland and Broome. |
Australia's main iron ore mines, located nearby, have been shut down and flights in the area cancelled. | Australia's main iron ore mines, located nearby, have been shut down and flights in the area cancelled. |
"There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately," Western Australian emergency officials said in a warning to residents in the sparsely populated Pilbara region. | "There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately," Western Australian emergency officials said in a warning to residents in the sparsely populated Pilbara region. |
The meteorology bureau also warned of a "very dangerous storm tide" in the area. | The meteorology bureau also warned of a "very dangerous storm tide" in the area. |
The small communities of Pardoo and Wallal are believed to be directly in the path of the cyclone and residents of those areas have been warned to seek shelter. | The small communities of Pardoo and Wallal are believed to be directly in the path of the cyclone and residents of those areas have been warned to seek shelter. |
"Destructive winds to 160km/h are possible between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga extending to the inland eastern Pilbara later in the day," the bureau said. | "Destructive winds to 160km/h are possible between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga extending to the inland eastern Pilbara later in the day," the bureau said. |
"Very destructive winds up to 230km/h are forecast near the cyclone centre." | "Very destructive winds up to 230km/h are forecast near the cyclone centre." |
Upgraded | Upgraded |
The last iron ore vessels able to leave Port Hedland before the storm arrived set sail on Friday morning. | The last iron ore vessels able to leave Port Hedland before the storm arrived set sail on Friday morning. |
Cyclone Lua has picked up speed as it travelled through the Indian Ocean. It was upgraded to a category three storm on Friday morning and then to a category four as it neared the coast - category five is the highest. | Cyclone Lua has picked up speed as it travelled through the Indian Ocean. It was upgraded to a category three storm on Friday morning and then to a category four as it neared the coast - category five is the highest. |
Australia's main iron ore terminals, which are some of the biggest in the world, are located around Port Hedland on the Pilbara coast. | Australia's main iron ore terminals, which are some of the biggest in the world, are located around Port Hedland on the Pilbara coast. |
Global Miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton both have major operations in the area and around 400m tonnes of iron ore passes through the ports each year. | Global Miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton both have major operations in the area and around 400m tonnes of iron ore passes through the ports each year. |
Australia's cyclone season typically runs from November to April and can affect oil and natural gas production, as well as mining and port operations. | Australia's cyclone season typically runs from November to April and can affect oil and natural gas production, as well as mining and port operations. |
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