Gulf | Oman
Cyclone Gonu could hit turtle nesting site
Tropical super cyclone Gonu, ranked to be the most powerful storm ever to have formed in the region in recent times, is heading towards Oman's east coast and according to Met officials in Muscat could hit Ras Al Hadd, the country's most visited turtle nesting site.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:38 May 3, 2009
- Strong wind and heavy rain started on Tuesday afternoon.
- Image Credit: Brian Espinosa/Gulf News
Muscat: Tropical super cyclone Gonu, ranked to be the most powerful storm ever to have formed in the region in recent times, is heading towards Oman's east coast and according to Met officials in Muscat could hit Ras Al Hadd, the country's most visited turtle nesting site.
"Gonu is heading at a speed of 10 knots an hour and could pass over Ras Al Hadd and the entire east coast anytime after 7pm today (Tuesday)," Ahmed Al Harthy, Director at the Department of Meteorology told Gulf News at 1pm Tuesday.
He also forecast that the storm will cross over Muscat anytime after 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday) over Muscat.
"There would be heavy rains, heavy flooding high seas and strong winds blowing in capital tomorrow," he warned.
Hospitals in the eastern region are on full alert. "Disaster command psot has been created and all the wards are kept ready for all kinds of emergencies," Dr. Kamala Bhatt, Senior Specialist Surgeon at the Sur Hospital told Gulf News over phone.
It has been raining off and on in Sur with strong winds felt by residents. Omifco, a joint venture between Oman and India to produce urea, has stopped production since morning.
"We have just kept skeleton staff at the plant and rest have been sent home," Deepak G. Inamdar, a senior engineer at the plant told Gulf News over phone from Sur.
At Masirah Island, hospital is in all preparedness. "All our 15 doctors are on duty and we are ready to meet any emergency," said Egyptian doctor Dr Asharaf Ahmed from Masirah.
He said that almost 70 per cent of the Island residents had shifted to the main land by this morning.
All roads leading to eastern region have been closed and no one is allowed to travel to the east as off Tuesday.
All bank branches, facing Corniche in Muscat, were closed for business two hours early at 11am yesterday and were shut by 1pm so staff could leave early.
"We did close our Corniche branch at 1pm," said a spokesperson for Bank Muscat.
BankMuscat also closed its seven branches in Eastern region till further notice, "due to the prevailing weather conditions"
The branches are : Sur, Sur New, Jaalan Bani BuAli
Bani bu Hassan, Al Kamil, Masirah, Al Ashkarah.
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