Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export terminal, shut down on Wednesday, with major mining giants like BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, and Hancock halting operations and asking staff to shelter.
The storm made landfall at Western Australia’s Pilbara coast, 65km east of Port Hedland just after 12pm local time (4am GMT), according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
Fortescue suspended operations at its Iron Bridge mining site, while BHP confirmed its Port Hedland personnel are sheltering in Category 5-rated facilities.
Cyclone Zelia has paralysed Australia’s iron ore exports, forcing the closure of major ports and mining operations across the Pilbara.
Severe tropical cyclone Zelia made landfall on Australia's west coast on Friday, bringing heavy wind gusts and record-breaking rainfall to the country’s most resource-rich region.
