Port Hedland in Western Australia reopens after Tropical Cyclone Zelia

16/2/2025 14:25

Western Australia's Port Hedland, the world's largest iron ore hub, reopened after Tropical Cyclone Zelia hit the state's ore-rich Pilbara region, the port's operator said late on Saturday.



Port Hedland, reopened after being shut on Wednesday due to the approach of Zelia, the most severe storm to hit the coast since Cyclone Ilsa in April 2023, Pilbara Ports said on its website.



"Pilbara Ports has undertaken inspections of navigation aids, channels and berths and has confirmed safe operations can resume," the operator said, referring to the port located about 1,300 km north of state capital Perth.



The nearby ports of Dampier and Varanus Island, a gathering and processing hub for oil and gas, reopened late on Friday.



Zelia, which crossed the coast near Port Hedland on Friday as a category five cyclone, the highest danger rating, brought heavy rain and wind gusts up to 290 kph.



It moved south and weakened to a category four, sparing the town's population centre from its most destructive winds, before easing to a tropical low as it moved inland on Saturday.