Muscat: The eastern part of Oman remained cut off from rest of the country on Wednesday even as the eye of Gonu disappeared before the tropical cyclone landed at Ras Al Hadd, Oman's most visited turtle nesting beach on the
east coast.
“The eye [or the centre] of Gonu disappeared before it landed on the east coast,'' Ahmad Al Harthy, Director at the Department of Meteorology Department, told Gulf News on Wednesday.
Al Harthy added that the intensity of the cyclone had considerably weakened. “It is in category one now,'' he said.
Gonu moved from east along the coast to Muscat and headed towards Batinah region, north of Muscat, near the borders of UAE, said the weather bureau official.
Moving north
The high alert remained true as wind was blowing at over 35 knots until late evening on Wednesday and rains continued to lash Muscat and east of Oman. “We expect rains and strong winds to continue for another two days,'' said Al Harthy, urging people to stay indoors.
He added that as Gonu moved northwards the impact of the cyclone was felt in different areas of Oman, including Batinah, Dhahirah (north-west Muscat) and Dhakhliya (north-central Muscat) regions. “It is raining everywhere,'' he said.
The killer tropical cyclone was moving northwards but Al Harthy said it was uncertain what course it would take after crossing over Oman.
Weather websites predicted that it could head towards Iran.
The entire eastern region of Oman remained incommunicado for the whole of Wednesday .
“There is extensive damage to properties in most towns in the eastern region, including Sur and Ras Al Hadd,'' Lt. Col. Azhar Al Kindi, a member of Oman's National Committee for Civil Defence (NCCD), told Gulf News on Wednesday , adding that the magnitude of the damage was not known yet.
He stressed that the government was working to restore power to the eastern region but the stormy weather conditions were hampering work.
He added: “So far there has not been a single report of injury, missing or fatality since last night.''
