National Institute of Information and Communications Technology satellite shows Cyclone Ilsa approaching Australia's west coast
Tropical cyclone hits Australia&# Authorities say on Friday that a Category 5 hurricane set new wind speed records on the northwest coast, but largely spared populated areas, including the world's largest iron ore export hub.
Cyclone Ilsa hit early Friday land with the highest intensity rating on a scale of one to five, and then moved inland as emergency crews urged several outlying communities along the storm's path to seek shelter and stay indoors.
“Port Hedland… escaped the cyclone at this stage. At night, we did not receive a single call for help" Peter Sutton, Superintendent of Western Australia Emergency Services, told ABC. "Large population centers do appear to have escaped damage"
But he said there are unconfirmed reports of "significant damage" in some outlying towns and that aerial photography will be carried out as soon as possible.
Port Hedland, the world's largest iron ore export destination used by BHP Group, Fortescue and billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting, closed on Thursday morning after the Port Authority began clearing piers a day earlier.
Ilsa set a new provisional ten-minute Australian wind speed record of 218 km per hour (135 mph) on Bedout Island, about 40 km offshore, eclipsing Cyclone George by 194 km at the same location in 2007. , the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The Weather Bureau downgraded the storm to a category three early Friday, but officials warned that the wild weather could still cause wind gusts up to 200 km per hour (124 mph). hour). ).
"As it moves inland and the sun is rising, we can expect it to still be a severe tropical cyclone" Shena Gamble, Hazard Response Manager at the Weather Bureau, said the news.
Heavy rain is predicted in some areas, which is likely to trigger flash floods. Destructive winds could hit the remote mining town of Telfer, where Newcrest Mining operates gold and copper mines.
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