Muscat: Despite the repeated warnings from Omani authorities of not crossing wadis, the death toll rose to five due the heavy rain that has been lashing Oman for the past four days.
Two people were found dead in both of Buriami and Nizwa provinces after they were washed away by the flooded wadis on Thursday morning.
One of the dead was an Emirati national after he was washed away in Wadi Kentnah of Buriami province, according to the Royal Oman Police. He was found dead in his vehicle on Thursday morning.
Two others were swept away by wadis of Mudhaibi and Rustaq provinces on Tuesday.
One person was killed after he was struck by lightning in Mudhaibi province Wednesday morning.
More than fifty people were rescued by the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) personnel, Royal Oman Police (ROP), Royal Air Force and citizens nationwide on Wednesday due to heavy rain.
Roads that link northern provinces remain cut off due to the flooded wadis, while roads linking Sohar with Ibri and Rustaq with Ibri also remain cut off due to heavy rains.
Since Sunday, the heavy rain caused traffic snarls, cut electricity supplies to several areas and caused substantial damage to property across the country.
Many areas in Shinas, Saham, Ibri, Mudhaibi, Nizwa, Nakhal and Samayil were submerged on Wednesday due to heavy rains which caused substantial damage to property.
Heavy hailstorms lashed Shinas, Liwa and Sohar provinces on Thursday afternoon.
Many wadis were flooded nationwide, caused traffic snarls as many Omani nationals working in Muscat were heading to their homes for the weekend.
Buraimi public Park was also shut down for maintenance works due to the heavy rain that caused damage there.
Muscat Municipality was working around the clock clearing debris from the roads and draining rain water in some areas of the capital Muscat.
Ministry of Education suspended classes in all schools in Oman on both Wednesday and Thursday, except for those in Dhofar and Wusta governorates.
Meanwhile, an official at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources told Gulf News that two of the drainage gates Al Khoudh Dam in Seeb province, one of the largest dams in the country, were opened on Thursday morning. “Such move came as the dam is full due to the heavy rain as water from many flooded wadis gather in the dam”, the official said.
The official reassured the residents of Khoudh, Mabalah and Mawaleh of Seeb provinces that there was no cause for concern as specialists were monitoring the dam.
Wadi Khoudh dam has eight million cubic meters of water as of now with the capacity standing at 11 million.
Wadi Diyqha Dam, the largest dam in the country, has stored 78 million cubic meters of water, as it capacity is estimated to 100 million, according to the official.
Oman TV has introduced sign language to help persons with hearing disabilities about the latest weather updates as well as tips.
Meanwhile, a picture of a policeman organising traffic in heavy rain at a broken traffic signal point in Barka province went viral on social medi. Social media users expressed their sincere thanks for the policeman’s sacrifice to serve others.
The latest satellite images and weather charts reveal the depression is likely to continue over Oman till Friday leading to thundershowers, hailstorms and strong wind.
The total number of reports that Oman police and the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA) dealt with stood at 304 so far, an official at PCDA told Gulf News.
The number of injuries stood at ten, two were PACDA personnel and eight were Omani nationals, due to the rain.
