14 dead, 32 rescued in a week of rough weather, search for three missing continues

Muscat – The Eid al Adha holiday turned gloomy for families as 14 people lost their lives and 32 others were rescued in different governorates during the inclement weather experienced in the sultanate since July 7.

With a large number of people heading to Dhofar and different wadis across Oman in the rough weather, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) took an unprecedented decision to temporarily close down all tourist sites across the sultanate on Sunday.

‘The decision was taken due several reports of accidents as well as indifference shown by people towards warnings and safety instructions,’ the authority stated.

Rescue teams of Royal Oman Police (ROP) and CDAA continue to search for three missing persons in Dhofar.

On Tuesday, the bodies of two people, part of an Asian family of eight that was washed away in the sea at Mughsail Beach in Dhofar, were found. On Sunday, the authority received a report of a family of eight falling into the sea after they crossed the safety fence at Mughsail Beach. Three of them were rescued immediately.

‘Two of the missing persons were found dead in Mughsail Beach by the authority’s rescue team. A search is underway for three more missing people,’ CDAA stated on Tuesday.

In Wadi Arbaien in Quriyat on Monday, two Asians were reported drowned. CDAA found the body of one on Monday, while the second body was retrieved on Tuesday after an intense search operation.

Also on Monday, six children drowned in Wadi Andham in Mudhaibi in North Sharqiyah. Five of them were rescued, while one was found dead.

July 10

It took a massive search operation, led by CDAA, to find the body of a person of Asian nationality who reportedly drowned in Wadi Darbat in the wilayat of Taqah in Dhofar.

The CDAA responded to a report of drowning of a 17-year-old Asian in Wadi Hoqain in Rustaq, who was rescued by citizens but was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

In another incident, three people of Asian origin were reported to have drowned in Al Sawadi Beach. Two were rescued and one found dead.

A CDAA rescue team also retrieved bodies of two citizens after their vehicle drifted away in Wadi Ahen in Sohar.

CDAA teams in South Sharqiyah managed to rescue two people after they were stuck in the Wadi al Souq area and another two from Wadi Sieh Sanada in the wilayat of Jalan Bani Bu Ali. Two citizens were rescued in separate incidents after their vehicles were caught in a wadi in the wilayat of Jalan Bani bu Hasan.

July 9

Rescue teams of CDAA in North Sharqiyah received a report about drowning of three children in Wadi Qafafa in the wilayat of Ibra. Two of them were rescued in good health, while the third was taken to a hospital. The third child later died.

Three people were also rescued in North Sharqiyah after their vehicle drifted away in Wadi al Washa in Wadi Bani Khalid.

July 8

A CDAA team rescued a person who was stuck in a wadi in the Saih al Makarem area in the wilayat of Sohar in North Batinah governorate.

July 7

CDAA rescued seven people, including children, in different incidents after they were stranded due to rising level of rainwater.

‘Rescue teams of CDAA in Dakhliyah governorate rescued four people, including children, trapped in a house in a village in Jabal Shams, due to rising rainwater,’ the authority stated.

It added that it received a report about a missing person of Asian nationality in a village in Jabal Shams. The body was later found in a wadi in Al Hamra.

CDAA in South Sharqiyah rescued three people after their vehicle was trapped in Wadi Shaya in Sur. An Asian person was rescued from North Sharqiyah after his truck got stuck in Wadi al Sabakh in the wilayat of Ibra.

‘Two children, aged nine and ten, were rescued by citizens in Wadi al Sahtan, Rustaq, but later died in hospital,’ CDAA stated.

Adhere to safety guideline

Visitors to Dhofar for the khareef season, and other places including wadis, should adhere to safety guidelines, the CDAA urged.

It stressed the need to follow safety guidelines during the period of stay in Dhofar and not to swim in undesignated areas, including springs, pools and beaches. ‘The height and intensity of waves increase significantly with the advent of the khareef season,’ CDAA warned.

The authority asked parents to monitor children and not to allow swimming in wadis during heavy rains, while ROP urged people to avoid venturing into wadis.