A powerful tropical cyclone hit virtually uninhabited areas in Western Australia on Friday, bringing record winds of 288 km/h, according to weather services.

Hurricane Elsa was classified as Category 5 (highest), and made landfall near the village of Bardo in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Perth, 19 hours away by car. On Friday, he heads to the desert interiors of Western Australia.

No injuries were reported and the main population centers were spared. "We have not received any requests for help," emergency services spokesman Peter Sutton told ABC.

The owners of a gas station and car park in Bardo said on social media that their businesses had suffered severe damage.
And the meteorological services stated that the hurricane was accompanied upon its landfall with continuous winds of 218 km / h on average, in addition to gusts of 288 km / h. These figures are unprecedented for Australia, where the highest wind speed ever recorded was 194 km/h during Hurricane George in 2007.

Elsa was downgraded to category three upon landfall, with wind speeds of 165 km/h. Emergency services declared a "red alert" for areas likely to be traversed by the hurricane.

There are many iron, copper and gold mines in this region, some of the largest mines in Australia. Some, like the Newcrest gold mine in the small town of Telfair, have slowed down as a precaution.

Port Hedland, a major iron ore shipping hub, was closed this weekend as the hurricane approached.

According to ANZ Bank, one of Australia's largest financial institutions, the closure could disrupt the global supply of iron ore, which is used to make steel.