Oman official plays down fears of cyclone

Muscat: Oman has raised storm warning to highest level but there are no fears of cyclone, Lt Colonel Azhar Al Kindy, a member of the National Committee for Civil Defence, told Gulf News yesterday.

"It is only a depression over the Arabian Sea and the forecast is of moderate and not heavy rain," he confirmed. He appealed not to panic and assured that the authorities were keeping a close vigil on the progress of the depression.

"We advise people to stay away from sea and not risk crossing wadis where flooding could prove dangerous," he cautioned.

Lt Col Al Kindy advised people not to panic and not to believe rumours. "Please follow official announcements on television and other mediums," he said.

"From our experience of Gonu, we believe that people with Internet access follow weather forecast but cannot read or interpret images properly therefore rumours spread and cause panic," he said.

Col Kindy also said that everything was normal in Salalah.