As per authorities, at least nine people died in Oman and Iran on Sunday as Tropical Cyclone Shaheen pummeled parts of their coastlines.
Two people were killed in a landslide and a child died in flash flooding in Oman officials reported.
Oman’s National Committee for Emergency Management said that rescue operations were carried out in which the rescue teams pulled the bodies of two Asian workers from their home which was hit by a landslide in Rusayl, an industrial area in the province of Muscat.
The committee reported that the child died while another person was reported missing in flash floods in the capital’s province.
The storm which was forecasted to cross Oman’s north coast in the evening had a wind speed of up to 139km/h (86mph). Schools were ordered to remain closed and flights were suspended.
In Muscat, vehicles were tyre-deep in water and streets deserted.
News agency ICANA reported, citing deputy speaker Ali Nikzad that six people died in Chabahar port in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan in Iran.
Provincial Governor Hossein Modarres-Khiabani told Iran’s official IRNA news agency, “Infrastructure, including electrical facilities and roads, was damaged,”. He added that the eye of the storm was 220km (130 miles) off the coast of the province.
Emergency services reported that The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was also on “high alert”.
The Civil Aviation Authority advised people to avoid low-lying areas and valleys. The Muscat International Airport said that a number of flights to and from the airport were suspended “to avoid any risks”.
Oman News Agency reported that a two-day national holiday had been declared in Oman on Sunday and Monday and the schools had been closed “due to the adverse climate conditions”.
Deadly storms are periodic occurrences in the Gulf. Northern Oman was hit by heavy rains, hail, and strong winds in July this year. While, Cyclone Mekunu hit southern Oman and the Yemeni island of Socotra, in May 2018, in which at least 11 people were killed.
Oman has a population of around 4.6 million people. It recently lifted a COVID-imposed lockdown and opened up for tourism.
The Gulf country is known for its picturesque coastline, rich heritage and striking terrain. It has been strongly impacted by the drop in world crude prices since 2014 and the pandemic.
The sultanate was depending upon tourism to uplift its waning economy but the lack of international travel severely damaged its plans.
The emergency authorities in the UAE also urged citizens to avoid beaches and low-lying areas as the country braced itself for the probable impact of the cyclone Shaheen.
National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said on Saturday, “We would like to assure everyone that the concerned authorities are on high alert and prepared to deal with any upcoming tropical situation,”.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said that all construction work in Al-Ain has been put on halt until Tuesday. It further said that children will study remotely on Monday and Tuesday.
