Gulf | Oman

Gonu leaves 35 dead

Rescue teams search for missing people as Cyclone Gonu leaves Oman and Iran; killing at least 35 people in both countries and causing devastation.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 23:38 May 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Ravindranath/Gulf News
  • Cyclone Gonu has damaged main roads and bridges in Muscat.
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Dubai: Cyclone Gonu left Oman and Iran; killing at least 35 people in both countries and causing devastation, though its power was waning on Friday.

Iranian state television said Gonu left Iran in the afternoon and was heading towards Hormuz, through which a fifth of world oil supplies pass.

An Iranian official said the hurricane had weakened and its "impact will be completely gone".

Omani news agency ONA said at least 32 people had been killed and 30 were missing. Three people were reported killed in Iran on Thursday and nine were missing.

The Omani official news agency said winds from Gonu, now downgraded to a Category One hurricane, were moderate and sea waves were about six feet high.

Officials said the hurricane damaged main roads and bridges connecting the eastern provinces with the capital Muscat and caused floods and landslides across all regions.

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In Muscat's centre, streets were turned into turbulent rivers, trees uprooted and power lines cut. Cars were left piled on top of each other, stuck in rubble and mud.

Omani police said rescue teams, using helicopters, searched for missing people and evacuated residents from valleys near Muscat.

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