Despite the repeated
warnings from Omani authorities of not crossing wadis, the death toll rose to
five due the heavy rain that has been lashing Oman for the past four days.
Two people were found
dead in both of Buriami and Nizwa provinces after they were washed away by the
flooded wadis on Thursday morning.
One of the dead was an
Emirati national after he was washed away in Wadi Kentnah of Buriami province,
according to the Royal Oman Police. He was found dead in his vehicle on
Thursday morning. Two others were swept
away by wadis of Mudhaibi and Rustaq provinces on Tuesday.
One person was killed
after he was struck by lightning in Mudhaibi province Wednesday morning
More than fifty people
were rescued by the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA)
personnel, Royal Oman Police (ROP), Royal Air Force and citizens nationwide on
Wednesday due to heavy rain.
SEE ALSO :Nairobi senator Mike Sonko tops list of shame of worst performing senator.
Roads that link
northern provinces remain cut off due to the flooded wadis, while roads linking
Sohar with Ibri and Rustaq with Ibri also remain cut off due to heavy rains.SEE ALSO :Nairobi senator Mike Sonko tops list of shame of worst performing senator.
Since Sunday, the heavy
rain caused traffic snarls, cut electricity supplies to several areas and
caused substantial damage to property across the country. Many areas in Shinas,
Saham, Ibri, Mudhaibi, Nizwa, Nakhal and Samayil were submerged on Wednesday
due to heavy rains which caused substantial damage to property.
Heavy hailstorms lashed
Shinas, Liwa and Sohar provinces on Thursday afternoon.
Many wadis were flooded
nationwide, caused traffic snarls as many Omani nationals working in Muscat
were heading to their homes for the weekend.
Buraimi public Park was
also shut down for maintenance works due to the heavy rain that caused damage
there. Muscat Municipality was
working around the clock clearing debris from the roads and draining rain water
in some areas of the capital Muscat. Ministry of Education
suspended classes in all schools in Oman on both Wednesday and Thursday, except
for those in Dhofar and Wusta governorates.
Meanwhile, an official
at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources told Gulf News
that two of the drainage gates Al Khoudh Dam in Seeb province, one of the
largest dams in the country, were opened on Thursday morning. “Such move came
as the dam is full due to the heavy rain as water from many flooded wadis
gather in the dam”, the official said.
The official reassured
the residents of Khoudh, Mabalah and Mawaleh of Seeb provinces that there was
no cause for concern as specialists were monitoring the dam.
Wadi Khoudh dam has
eight million cubic meters of water as of now with the capacity standing at 11
million.
Wadi Diyqha Dam, the
largest dam in the country, has stored 78 million cubic meters of water, as it capacity
is estimated to 100 million, according to the official.
Oman TV has introduced
sign language to help persons with hearing disabilities about the latest
weather updates as well as tips. Meanwhile, a picture of
a policeman organising traffic in heavy rain at a broken traffic signal point
in Barka province went viral on social medi. Social media users expressed their
sincere thanks for the policeman’s sacrifice to serve others.
The latest satellite
images and weather charts reveal the depression is likely to continue over Oman
till Friday leading to thundershowers, hailstorms and strong wind.
The total number of
reports that Oman police and the Public Authority for Civil Defense and
Ambulance (PACDA) dealt with stood at 304 so far, an official at PCDA told Gulf
News.
The number of injuries
stood at ten, two were PACDA personnel and eight were Omani nationals, due to
the rain. Source