It is forecast that Zelia will intensify even more as he advances to the Pilbara coast, with the slow movement of the system that probably produces a very high rain along its track, according to the Meteorology Office. The cyclone has been strengthened in a category 2 and is likely to become a category 3 before land.

Port Hedland, the largest iron ore export port in Australia that uses BHP Group and Fortescue Ltd., will close at 6 pm local time on Wednesday. It is currently forecast that the cyclone touches the east of the port.

BHP said their rail operations will begin to increase in line with the port shutter, while their mines continued to operate. Fortescue said the company was following the directive from the port, without giving more details.

A series of cyclones have thrown heavy rains through the Pilbara region this year and interrupted iron mineral operations, even damaging a port installation operated by the heavyweight mining group Rio Rio Rúnto Group. Other holes in the already saturated floor could lead to sudden floods and put vital rail links at risk.

River, which sends iron mineral from terminals to the southwest Port Hedland, did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

Zelia will be the first cyclone to cross the Australian coast this season, which extends from November to the end of April. It will be the last land for a season from the Tropical Blanche cyclone in March 2017.

Photography: an autonomous transport truck throws a rock load in the mine well in the Gudai-Darri Iron Mineral mine in Río Río in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Credit of Credit of The photo: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

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Topics Australia