Cyclone Rusty barrels towards coast

Residents of Port Hedland, on Australia's north-coast, prepared for a "direct hit" from a powerful tropical cyclone due to make landfall in the next 48 hours.

The town, known locally as 'cyclone alley', began evacuating residents on Tuesday (February 26) ahead of forecast 280 kph (175 mph) winds and torrential rains.

Cyclone Rusty could strengthen to a category four storm - on a scale of one-to five - by the time it reaches the port, the Bureau of Meteorology tracking system showed.

Local shops reported people were stocking up all essentials, including bread, milk, water and even alcohol, local media said.

Cyclone Rusty has already closed Port Hedland, which handles a fifth of the world's seaborne-traded iron ore, halting the loading of millions of tonnes of iron ore, and shut offshore oil and gas fields.