Australia Cyclone Rusty

Australians in the remote northwest mining belt described their lucky escape Thursday after a major cyclone made landfall at a lower intensity than forecast and spared the more populous areas.

Australia's major iron ore port was shut down and residents along a remote stretch of the country's west coast ordered to take shelter as a powerful cyclone bore down on the region on Wednesday, bringing drenching rains and lashing winds.

Australian authorities urged the evacuation of parts of the resource-rich northwest on Tuesday as a powerful cyclone whipped up huge seas, while a man died in heavy flooding in the northeast.

Australians in the remote northwest mining belt described their lucky escape Thursday after a major cyclone made landfall at a lower intensity than forecast and spared the more populous areas.

Australia's major iron ore port was shut down and residents along a remote stretch of the country's west coast ordered to take shelter as a powerful cyclone bore down on the region on Wednesday, bringing drenching rains and lashing winds.

Australian authorities urged the evacuation of parts of the resource-rich northwest on Tuesday as a powerful cyclone whipped up huge seas, while a man died in heavy flooding in the northeast.