“A red alert has been issued for Port Hedland and South Hedland putting residents in lockdown as a category three cyclone tracks towards Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.

“Cyclone Christine is expected to bring massive storm surges of up to five metres, flooding rain and winds of up to 200 kilometres-an-hour when it makes landfall between Karratha and Port Hedland later tonight.

“Australia’s biggest iron ore miners have already been forced to shutdown their operations and with a red alert now in place, residents must stay indoors and turn off gas, water and electricity.

“The SES is door knocking in the town and buses are on standby if evacuations are needed.” – ABCNews.net.au