Muscat: The Royal Oman Police on Wednesday said that 16 people lost their lives and 40 were rescued in different governorates during the rains that resulted from the trough from the monsoon impact over the Arabian Sea, which enhanced the local cloud development over Al Hajar Mountains since July 7.
The search and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to search for the remaining three people from the missing family in the Al Mughsayl area in addition to one of the missing expatriate workers in the Raysut area in the Dhofar Governorate.
The Royal Air Force of Oman aviation is supporting the search and rescue teams in the process of covering the beaches of the Al Mughsayl area to search for the missing after they were swept into the sea.
Due to the heavy rains and and non-adherence to instructions, directives, and warnings, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority had also decided to close all tourist destinations in Oman until this weather condition ends.
Wadi crossings, even though it is a punishable offence, have also been a major hassle for the authorities during the week that had seen the influence of the trough from low pressure area that was located north of India. The rescue operations also saw bringing to safety individuals and families who were stranded in their homes as their areas experienced heavy rainfall and strong flow of wadis.
The authorities have urged parents to keep children away from water spots.
DEPRESSION NOT TO HIT OMAN
On Wednesday, the Met Office said latest analysis of National Multi Hazard Early Warning Center indicates probability of tropical depression formation over North-East of Arabian Sea nearby coasts of Gujarat during coming Friday and Saturday with no direct impact over Sultanate of Oman.
According to Oman Met Office, clear to partly cloudy to cloudy skies are expected over all of the governorates with chances of isolated rain. There are also chances for convective clouds development and isolated rain occasionally thundershowers associated with downdraft winds and hail over Al Hajar Mountains and adjoining areas towards afternoon. Cloudy to Partly cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dhofar governorates and adjoining mountains with chance of drizzle and isolated rain may extend to the desert areas. There is also a forecast of blowing dust over desert and open areas due to fresh winds.
The teams of the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority have been dealing with the number 386 for communications since the beginning of the weather situation, and efforts are still continuing.
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