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Cyclone Lua nears north-west Australia coast Cyclone Lua batters north-west Australian coast
(1 day later)
A tropical cyclone is intensifying as it bears down on Western Australia's north-west coast, forecasters warn. A tropical cyclone has battered communities along Western Australia's north-west coast with torrential rain and damaging winds.
Severe tropical cyclone Lua - upgraded to a category four storm - is threatening communities with torrential rain and winds up to 160km/h (100mph). There have been reports of extensive damage on the Pilbara coast but so far no casualties, local media says.
It is expected to make landfall in the next few hours between Port Hedland and Broome. Cyclone Lua crossed the coast as a category four storm but has weakened to category one as it moves inland.
Australia's main iron ore mines, located nearby, have been shut down and flights in the area cancelled. Australia's meteorology bureau says gusts of up 100km/h (60mph) are still possible near the cyclone centre.
"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. It has issued warnings for the eastern Gascoyne, western Interior and northern Goldfields areas during Sunday.
The meteorology bureau also warned of a "very dangerous storm tide" in the area. Early on Saturday, Lua crossed the coast between Port Hedland and Broome and caused extensive damage to some remote Pilbara towns, uprooting trees and damaging buildings, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.
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. Recovery teams were on their way to assess the damage.
"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. As the cyclone gathered intensity and swept in off the Indian Ocean, Australia's main iron ore mines - which are some of the biggest in the world - shut down.
"Very destructive winds up to 230km/h are forecast near the cyclone centre." The mines are located around Port Hedland on the Pilbara coast.
Upgraded The last iron ore vessels able to leave Port Hedland before the storm arrived sailed 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.
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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