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Al Sayal causes floods in Oman, prompts 23 rescue operations

16 Oct 2024 Al Sayal causes floods in Oman, 23 rescue operations conducted By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Muscat – The coastal city of Sur in South Sharqiyah recorded the highest rainfall in Oman over three days, with 215mm of downpour reported from Monday to Wednesday.

As the sultanate continues to feel the effects of the tropical depression ‘Al Sayal’, massive downpour led to severe impact across several governorates, prompting rescue operations and infrastructure assessments.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources revealed that the coastal city of Qalhat received 194.4mm of rainfall followed by Quriyat 170mm, Muscat 100mm, while Jalan Bani Bu Ali experienced 94mm.

In Muscat, Muttrah received 68mm of rain, while Port Sultan Qaboos reported 74.8mm.

Weather forecasts indicate continued cloud cover for Thursday, particularly in coastal and mountainous regions of Dhofar, with expected rainfall between 10mm and 25mm. Similar conditions are anticipated in the eastern and western Al Hajar mountains, with some improvements expected on Friday.

In response to the adverse weather conditions, rescue teams from the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) conducted 23 operations across the governorates of South Sharqiyah and Muscat.

The National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM) confirmed 11 cases of rescue operations in South Sharqiyah and 12 more in Muscat.

Al Sayal causes floods in Oman, 23 rescue operations conducted

Heavy rains necessitated multiple rescue operations over the past three days.

In Muscat, CDAA teams successfully evacuated ten individuals from a house in the wilayat of Muttrah due to rising water levels. All of them were reported to be in good health.

Additionally, a person was rescued from a vehicle trapped in a wadi in Muttrah.

In South Sharqiyah, rescue teams responded to reports of some families getting trapped in their homes due to the rise in water levels in the wilayat of Sur.

They successfully rescued one family and another group of people, who were trapped in their vehicle, which got stuck in an overflowing wadi. All have been rescued, and they are reported to be safe.

Sheikh Talal bin Saif al Hosni, Wali of Quriyat, and Eng Al Tayeb bin Mohammed al Harthi, Director General of Muscat Municipality, visited the affected areas to assess the damage caused by the tropical condition Al Sayal.

Their tour included Al Sahil village and areas such as Hail al Ghaf and Al Mazara, focusing on the reopening of roads impacted by flooding.

Sheikh Hosni stressed the need for timely restoration of surface communication for the residents and visitors in affected villages, including Dhabab, Bimmah and Finns.

In parallel, Muscat Municipality initiated cleaning operations to address the aftermath of the inclement weather. Efforts included clearing debris, removing fallen trees, draining excess water, and conducting pest control campaigns.

On Wednesday, authorities officially announced the termination of the National Center for Emergency Management and its associated structures following the dissipation of the weather depression.

The CDAA continues to urge the public to exercise caution, advising against crossing valleys and staying away from low-lying areas during adverse weather conditions.

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