Tragedy in Oman: Twin brothers drown while swimming at popular wadi

Muscat: Two brothers died after a drowning incident in Wadi Bani Khlaid, eastern part of Oman on Sunday, Royal Oman Police (ROP) has confirmed.

The twins, identified as Al Hassan Al Masoodi and Al Husain Al Masoodi, drowned while they were swimming in one of the wadi’s pools.

Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the best-known wadis in the Sultanate of Oman. Its stream maintains a constant flow of water throughout the year. Large pools of water and boulders are scattered along the course of the wadi.

According to the ROP, the Coast Guard Police, along with concerned citizens, swiftly responded to the emergency and managed to recover the bodies.

Drowning cases among children in Oman continue despite warnings and campaigns from the authorities that advise parents to take care of their children when they go into the sea or wadis.

In May, two siblings, aged 10 and 7 years, drowned while they were swimming off a beach in the wilayat of Khabourah.

Around 166 drowning cases were registered in 2023 compared to 324 in 2022 – Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said.

Children make up the majority of drowning victims as they are often not strong enough to swim against powerful currents.

Parents often leave their children to swim alone, prompting the CDAA to organise several campaigns to warn parents against negligent behaviour.

An official at the CDAA told Gulf News that the highest number of cases were handled during the summer months as many people were on holiday.

The official added that such cases occur because people do not take precautions.

The official advised the public to pay attention to weather forecasts and not to venture into wadis and the sea.