Australian iron-ore giant Rio Tinto confirmed on Friday that its rail and port operations in the Pilbara region had been disrupted by Tropical Cyclone Sean, which brought record rainfall to parts of Western Australia.
The cyclone, which struck earlier this week, caused widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure, including power systems. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported that Karratha received 274.4 mm of rain in just 24 hours, breaking the city's single-day rainfall record.
Rio Tinto said the East Intercourse Island (EII) port facility, which handled 45-million tonnes of iron-ore shipments for the company in 2024, had been impacted, with a railcar dumper at the site flooded following the storm's passage.
“Assessments are ongoing. Initial indications suggest the dumper at EII could be offline for three to four weeks, as rectification works are required to repair flood damage,” said the mining company.
Rio Tinto said recovery efforts across its broader iron-ore system were progressing, with the majority of rail and port operations now back on line.
The company also confirmed that while its first-quarter shipments would be affected, its overall shipment guidance for 2025 remained unchanged. 