Muscat: A total of 24 people have been confirmed killed after Cyclone Phet carved its path of destruction in Oman.
Rescuers predicted the death toll would rise as search and clean-up operations were to continue on Monday.
Most of the people killed by Cyclone Phet, including 13-year-old twin sisters from the Batinah region in the north, were discovered on Saturday as authorities began the rebuilding and rescue work in 35C heat.
The dead include three expatriates — one Indian, one Bangladeshi national and one Pakistani.
The toll also included a Department of Meteorology staff member who was swept away in a surging wadi in Muscat. Two Pakistani expatriates who died had been in a group of four swept away in surging wadi waters in Nizwa on Friday. Two survivors were rescued by Civil Defence teams.
Lt Gen Malek Bin Sulaiman Al Ma'amari, Inspector General of Police and Customs and Chairman of the National Committee for Civil Defence (NCCD), said most of the 60,000 people evacuated from Masirah Island before Phet crossed the east coast of Oman, were now being allowed home.
"Rescue teams are now working to re-open roads, restore electricity and repair water mains damaged by floodwaters," he said.
The link between Muscat and the east coast remained cut off as road repairs were being carried out in Amarat, on the outskirts of Muscat.
