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Cyclone Rusty looms off Western Australian coast Cyclone Rusty looms off Western Australian coast
(about 1 hour later)
The Western Australian community of Port Hedland has battened down for the arrival of cyclone Rusty, a 140mph storm headed for the world's biggest mining port.The Western Australian community of Port Hedland has battened down for the arrival of cyclone Rusty, a 140mph storm headed for the world's biggest mining port.
Rusty, a category four storm, was forecast to cross the coast on Wednesday afternoon or evening near Port Headland, 1,000 miles north of Perth. /> 
/>Residents in Rusty's path have been put on red alert, the highest possible weather warning level, requiring them to stay indoors until an all-clear is given. Many have taken shelter in evacuation centres from winds of 120km/h lashing the coastline even before the storm made landfall. /> 
/>Australia's weather bureau said the slow approach of the cyclone, which stalled off the coast early on Wednesday, as well as its size, meant "very destructive winds" would hit the coast well ahead of the arrival of the main body of the storm. Six hundred millimetres – 24 inches – of rain is expected to fall over 24-48 hours. /> 
/>"These are severe tropical cyclones. These are very, very powerful systems and even though many residents in the Pilbara have been through a number of tropical cyclones, they still bring with them an element of risk and they just can't be underestimated," the Bureau of Meteorology's Neil Bennett told the ABC. /> 
/>"[This] evening we could see some gusts getting up to nearly 250km/h [155mph]. It's going to be a long, protracted and quite dangerous experience."		 Rusty, a category four storm, was forecast to cross the coast on Wednesday afternoon or evening near Port Headland, 1,000 miles north of Perth.
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/>Residents in Rusty's path have been put on red alert, the highest possible weather warning level, requiring them to stay indoors until an all-clear is given. Many have taken shelter in evacuation centres from winds of 120km/h lashing the coastline even before the storm made landfall.
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/>Australia's weather bureau said the slow approach of the cyclone, which stalled off the coast early on Wednesday, as well as its size, meant "very destructive winds" would hit the coast well ahead of the arrival of the main body of the storm. Six hundred millimetres – 24in – of rain is expected to fall over 24-48 hours.
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/>"These are severe tropical cyclones. These are very, very powerful systems and even though many residents in the Pilbara have been through a number of tropical cyclones, they still bring with them an element of risk and they just can't be underestimated," the bureau of meteorology's Neil Bennett told the ABC.
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/>"[This] evening we could see some gusts getting up to nearly 250km/h [155mph]. It's going to be a long, protracted and quite dangerous experience."
A dangerous storm tide and damaging waves are expected to hit the coast with the cyclone. /> 
/>Port Headland – a town of 20,000 people – is home to the largest bulk minerals export port in the world, shipping 238bn tonnes of iron ore in 2012. The port has been closed since Monday. Major mining companies including Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals temporarily closed operations and suspended all work at Port Hedland. Other ports further down the coast have also been closed as a precaution.		 A dangerous storm tide and damaging waves are expected to hit the coast with the cyclone.
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/>Port Headland – a town of 20,000 people – is home to the largest bulk minerals export port in the world, shipping 238bn tonnes of iron ore in 2012. The port has been closed since Monday. Major mining companies including Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals temporarily closed operations and suspended all work at Port Hedland. Other ports further down the coast have also been closed as a precaution.
Many workers have been evacuated from mining camps and rigs across the mineral-rich Pilbara region. Flights in and out of Port Hedland's airport have not operated for three days.Many workers have been evacuated from mining camps and rigs across the mineral-rich Pilbara region. Flights in and out of Port Hedland's airport have not operated for three days.
"For the mining companies it's millions of dollars down the drain," said Port Headland's deputy mayor, George Deccache. Iron ore trades at around $US150 (£100) per tonne. /> 
/>Rusty is Western Australia's third tropical cyclone this season.		 "For the mining companies it's millions of dollars down the drain," said Port Headland's deputy mayor, George Deccache. Iron ore trades at around $US150 (£100) per tonne.
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/>Rusty is Western Australia's third tropical cyclone this season.