Cyclone warning issued for parts of Western Australia

Residents in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia should prepare for a possible tropical cyclone on Saturday afternoon, the nation's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has said.

The warning extends along the West Australian coast, with gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour expected to traverse parallel to a number of key mining towns, including Karratha and Port Headland.

"These towns need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organize an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water," a statement from the Bureau said on Saturday.

The BoM said the intense tropical low had made its way 150 kilometers north-west of Karratha and 310 kilometers west of Port Hedland.

According to the Bureau's statement, most of the region would experience winds of at least 70 kilometers an hour.

"The tropical low lies over open waters to the northwest of Karratha and should continue tracking west southwest parallel to the Pilbara coast," the statement said.

The tropical low should strengthen and may reach tropical cyclone intensity on Saturday afternoon.

It's believed more than 60,000 residents in the Pilbara region have been alerted, however as the area is a mining hotspot, fly-in-fly-out workers and mining operations could also be affected.

Roads in the area have been closed as a precaution and residents have been told to tie down loose items and stockpile emergency supplies.

source: Xinhua