Muscat: Six people have died and another is missing as heavy rains lashed Muscat and northern parts of Oman.
“All the deaths and the missing person were washed away in sudden flooding of wadis,” Captain Rashid Bin Suleiman Al Abri, a spokesperson for the Royal Oman Police, told Gulf News.
He said that the police were continuing search operations for a missing expatriate after he was pulled by currents in Amerat area in Muscat. “Four of the six dead are expatriates and two are Omanis,” he revealed.
Three people died in the Dhakliya, north-west of Muscat, due to heavy rains. A group of ten went to take pictures of rains and flooding when they were trapped in the wadi but were rescued by the police.
Most low-lying areas in Muscat were flooded causing a traffic jam. “I took three hours in the morning to reach my work place,” said banker Fatima Al Balushi, who travels everyday from the outskirts of Muscat to the banking district.
“We are aware of flooding in low lying areas and are working tirelessly to clear these areas,” said Khaleel Al Balushi, Director of Information at the Muscat Municipality.
The officials of the Department of Meteorology in Oman were incommunicado even as dark clouds hovered over Muscat late afternoon today (Sunday).
According to weather website, wunderground.com, a thunderstorm is likely to hit Muscat on Monday.
With heavy rains lashing Muscat, the education ministry run schools were shut and community and private schools turned away students today morning as a precaution in the wake of heavy rains and forecast of thunderstorm.
Muscat received highest, 18,8mm, rainfall till late Saturday night while Buraimi, bordering Al Ain, received 15.6 mm rainfall.
