Oman

Projects launched to mitigate flood risks in Al Ghubra

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Muscat - Muscat Municipality has launched a project to build rainwater canals and drainage systems (with a length of 2,000 m) in the Al-Ghubra, which is prone to flooding after heavy rains.

The project aims to mitigate the effects of flood risks in the region and its surroundings, and to raise the efficiency of drainage of the surface water.

The work is being carried out in the areas around the Extra showroom, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, and the Supreme Court.

Nearly 45 percent of the areas in the capital are vulnerable to floods from wadis while another 20 percent is subject to coastal floods, this was revealed by experts who discussed the details of the Greater Muscat masterplan.

The project directors of the master plan called for the need to identify areas of strategic high risk and take precautions to counter worst-case scenarios for the local population such as easy access to hospitals and facilitating localized safety areas with easy access.

The statistics are important as the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change for the Sultanate of Oman (2020-2040) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had called on urban planners in the Sultanate to consider the impact of heavy rainfall that usually follows the low-pressure systems developed in the sea, especially the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Urban areas are characterized by a high concenNearly 45 percent of the areas in the capital are vulnerable to floods from wadis while another 20 percent is subject to coastal floods, this was revealed on Thursday at the seminar organized to discuss the details of the Greater Muscat masterplan.

The project directors of the master plan called for the need to identify areas of strategic high risk and take precautions to counter worst-case scenarios for the local population such as easy access to hospitals and facilitating localized safety areas with easy access.

The statistics are important as the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change for the Sultanate of Oman (2020-2040) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had called on urban planners in the Sultanate to consider the impact of heavy rainfall that usually follows the low-pressure systems developed in the sea, especially the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Urban areas characterized by a high concentration of people, infrastructure, business, and industry will be vulnerable to extreme climate events in the absence of adequate planning and governance.

“Extreme rainfall can lead to flash floods, which can adversely affect business sectors such as such as telecommunications, insurance, and banking among others.