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