The Search and Rescue Sector at the National Emergency Management Committee on Monday said that a third person who went missing when a vehicle carrying 10 people was swept away in a wadi in the Wilayat of Barkah, was found dead.
In another incident, a seven-year-old child drowned in a water pool in Barkah in Al Batinah South Governorate, the Search and Rescue Sector of the National Emergency Management Committee announced. The child was rushed to a hospital, but was pronounced dead upon arrival. This brings the total number of deaths from the weather system Al Masarrat depression to six.
The committee urges everyone to exercise caution, especially in low-lying areas and wadi streams.
The National Emergency Management Committee calls on parents and caretakers to keep a close watch on children and ensure their safety.
Hilal bin Salim al Hajri, Head of the Forecasting and Early Warning System Department at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said that there are chances of continued thundershowers over the governorates of Al Dakhiliyah, Muscat, Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South and the northern parts of Al Wusta Governorate.
E-LEARNING
The Ministry of Education announced the activation of e-learning platforms as all public and private schools should switch to the distance learning mode from March 24 to 26 in all governorates except Dhofar and Al Wusta.
The ministry said that the decision also applies to universities and colleges and that normal in-person classes will resume on Sunday.
The ministry made the decision on the basis of a letter from the National Emergency Management Centre regarding the impact of a low-pressure trough on the northern governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, and out of the ministry’s concern for the safety of students and staff in schools and higher education institutions.
Meanwhile, the Relief and Shelter Sector of the National Emergency Management Committee indicated that the number of designated relief and shelter centres in the governorates stands at 161, including 53 centres that are fully equipped to receive emergency cases.
He reported that one centre was activated at Al Ghaythrana Basic Education School in the Wilayat of Adam in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah as a precaution, where 13 families were housed.
MORE RAINS
Heavy to extremely heavy rains battered the Wilayat of Al Rustaq in the Al Batinah South Governorate on Monday.
Rains fell in the city centre, Wadi Bani Ghafir, Wadi Bani Hni, Wadi Al Sahtan and Wadi Bani Awf.
Rainfall continued for several hours reducing temperatures and causing several wadis to overflow, such as Wadi Al Mahaleel, Wadi Mistal, Wadi Al Madrah and Wadi Al Subaykha. — ONA
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