Muscat: The Search and Rescue Sector of the National Emergency Management Committee announced on Thursday the death of two Omani women after they drowned in a water pool within a wadi channel in the wilayat of Ibri, Al Dhahirah Governorate, while one was attempting to rescue the other. Both were recovered deceased.
In addition, the citizen who was missing from Wednesday evening was found deceased, after being swept away by a flash flood in one of the wadis in the Wilayat of Manah.
This incident occurred during severe weather that has caused fatalities in several governorates, with intense rainfall leading to wadi flooding, flash floods, and dangerous road conditions.
Authorities have repeatedly warned the public to be cautious, avoid crossing flooded valleys and follow safety guidelines due to the ongoing unstable weather.
The National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre confirmed that a weather system would continue to affect the Sultanate of Oman, with heavy thunderstorms expected after midnight on Thursday and throughout Friday. These storms will bring hail and strong downdraft winds.
The centre predicted that the initial impacts will be felt in governorates of Musandam, Al Buraimi, Al Batinah North, Al Dhahirah and Al Dakhiliyah, before extending to governorates of Muscat, Al Batinah South, Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South and Al Wusta.
The centre warned of varying intensity rainfall, occasionally extremely heavy with hail, leading to flash floods in wadis. Strong downdraft winds with speeds of 20 to 50 knots are expected, along with isolated rain and thundershowers in parts of Dhofar Governorate.
Hilal bin Salim al Hajri, Head of the Forecasting and Early Warning System Department at the Civil Aviation Authority, said several governorates in the Sultanate of Oman will be affected. "The effects will range from moderate to heavy, torrential rain, strong downdrafts, and hail. The depression is expected to gradually weaken starting on Saturday evening, March 28."
Weather radar imagery on Thursday showed cloud clusters with light to moderate precipitation over northern Oman. Authorities classified the overall impact level of the weather system as low to moderate, advising the public to stay updated and be cautious, especially in areas prone to flash floods and hailstorms.
Meanwhile, emergency response teams, including Police Aviation, and Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), conducted rescue operations nationwide due to rising water levels in wadis and multiple incidents caused by unstable weather conditions.
In one operation, Police Aviation rescued an Asian truck driver whose vehicle was swept away while crossing Wadi Al Batha in Sinaw. He was airlifted to safety and reported to be in good health. Authorities stressed the importance of avoiding wadi crossings to prevent legal consequences.
Another rescue involved a two-member family rescued from a wadi in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq. They were safely relocated and were in stable condition. The aviation unit also transported two Omani citizens from Wadi Al Hawasnah Hospital in Al Khabourah to Al Rustaq Reference Hospital following a traffic accident.
In Al Batinah North, CDAA rescue teams saved a person trapped in a vehicle in Al Nabr area in the Wilayat of Liwa. In Al Dhahirah, two individuals were rescued from a wadi in the Wilayat of Yanqul, and two more in the Wilayat of Dhank.
Rescue teams in Muscat Governorate responded to a case in Muttrah where a person was trapped in a vehicle in a wadi and successfully rescued. Authorities continue to urge caution and avoiding flooded wadis during adverse weather conditions.
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