Flash floods have killed three people, two Indians and one Omani, in the mountainous regions of the southern part of Oman, left four citizens missing and caused heavy damage to property and livestock.
Thirty-three people have been wounded by the torrents of water running through the Dhofar province, some 800 kilometers southwest of Muscat. The floods followed the heaviest rains that Dhofar had seen in three decades, according to the national meteorology department.
The government has been activated to restore a paralyzed life with the Armed Forces joining hands with the Royal Oman Police and the Governorate of Dhofar in rescue operations.
Search operations are underway for those who were swept away by the floods while attempting to rescue others, Gulf News reported Monday.
"We haven't known a disaster like this before," Lt Col. Mubarak bin Mohammed Al Alawi, Director of Operations at the ROP headquarters in Dhofar told the daily Sunday.
He said the storm, with reaching up to 75 kilometers an hour, accompanied by heavy rains, inundated several areas and disrupted traffic, telecommunications, electricity and other facilities.
He added that a search for the four missing Omanis is underway with the help of the Royal Air Force of Oman.
"Their vehicle has been found. Let us hope and pray that we recover them alive." He added that over 50 people caught in the flash floods have been airlifted.
The Omani national died early Sunday morning and the Indians a day before. He said those injured were transferred to hospitals, however most of them have been discharged.
Moreover, he praised the Armed Forces and the ministries for their timely help. "We are working like a well-knit team to restore normalcy as early possible."
He said police were finding it difficult to rescue some people who have been stranded in flooded valleys since Friday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Alial Qatabi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, in a statement, called upon all government organizations and citizens to work collectively to meet the situation, saying the governorate was mobilizing all resources at its disposal to assist the victims.
Several schools in the low-lying areas were closed. Mohammed bin Ali Al Wahaibi, Executive President of Oman Telecommunications (Omantel), told Oman News Agency, that the company was able to reactivate 70 to 80 per cent of the Muscat-Salalah network by Saturday and it was almost normal by Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Oman Air said it has resumed its services to Salalah after a short disruption. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
