Tropical cyclone Narelle which is forecast to strike Western Australia's Pilbara region, an area rich in mineral and energy sources, has caused the closing of ports and evacuation of workers at mining sites and drilling platforms, according to media reports.
On January 9, iron ore ports of Cape Lambert and Dampier began to shut down as the cyclone started to close in on Pilbara, while Port Hedland shipping terminals used by BHP Billiton, Fortescue and Atlas Iron remained in operation. The Australian miner Rio Tinto stated that it has stopped iron ore loading at its Pilbara ports, stopping a fifth of world's iron ore trade.
Rio Tinto said that all the other operations including mining, rail shipments and other port operations are continuing as before.