Heavy rains lash Dhofar after Tej makes landfall
Schools in some wilyats to remain shut till Thursday
Published: 06:10 PM,Oct 24,2023 | EDITED : 10:10 PM,Oct 24,2023
Dhalkout recorded the second highest amount of rain during the period from October 22 to 24 this year, amounting to 240 millimetres. — ONA
SALALAH: Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and high sea waves lashed Salalah in Dhofar Governorate and its mountainous areas on Tuesday morning as Tropical Cyclone Tej made landfall. The rains were concentrated throughout the Wilayat of Salalah.
Government and private schools in the wilayats of Dhalkout, Rakhyout and Al Mazyouna in Dhofar Governorate will remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday due to the inclement weather triggered by Tropical Cyclone Tej, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Ministry said a decision to extend the suspension was taken in consultation with the National Centre for Emergency Management, among other authorities, with the goal of ensuring the safety of students and staff.
Classes will resume in the affected schools on Sunday. As for schools in other parts of the governorate, classes resume on Wednesday, the Ministry said.
The National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre said there are chances of the atmosphere of the Sultanate of Oman being affected by a depression during October 26-28.
The Wilayat of Dhalkout in Dhofar Governorate has been witnessing heavy rainfall since the early morning as a result of the direct effects of the Tropical Cyclone, accompanied by strong winds that caused several wadis to flow.
Dhalkout recorded the second highest amount of rain during the period from October 22 to 24 this year, amounting to 240 millimetres. This resulted in the flow of wadis and streams, including Wadi Sayq, Wadi Qahud and Wadi Kharfut. Some roads in Dhalkout were closed, while a power outage was reported in parts of the wilayat.
Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) confirmed that it had received a request from the Ministry of Health to assist in the evacuation of two patients from Shahab Asaib. In a statement, RAFO said it had dispatched a helicopter to Shahab Asaib, from where the individuals were picked up and transported to Salalah Hospital.
The Basic Services Sector, responsible for providing essential services in the cyclone-impacted areas, has been fully mobilised in restoring some services in wilayats affected by Tej.
Personnel and equipment despatched by the Basic Services Department helped to clear fallen rocks that had left the Hadbeen-Hasik road in Sadah temporarily closed.
Electricity has been restored to most of the wilayats of Dhofar Governorate, and work is underway to restore power in some villages and towns in the western parts of the governorate. Communications networks in the governorate are working normally.
Medical staff in Dhofar Governorate are also standing by to provide any assistance. The Ministry of Health has activated the Emergency Case Management Centre in Dhofar Governorate for medical support in conjunction with the measures taken to mitigate the possible effects of Tropical Cyclone Tej.
A special medical team is on round-the-clock alert to respond to any emergencies. Medical staff have also been assigned to the medevac service on standby in the governorate. Backed by surgeons, specialists in internal medicine and orthopaedists, the team has been primed to enable the transfer of patients to suitably equipped hospitals should their relocation be necessitated by the storm.
According to Maj Tariq bin Awad al Shanfari from the Department of Security Relations and Media of the Royal Oman Police (ROP), a number of neighbourhoods in the wilayats of Rakhyout and Dhalkout have suffered blackouts due the storm. Efforts are underway to restore supply at the earliest, he said.
Furthermore, the main road near Khor Al Mughsail has been temporarily closed to vehicles due to overflows from the nearby wadi, Maj Al Shanfari said.
Rescue teams and crews have been deployed to affected areas to respond to any storm-related contingencies as and when they erupt, he said, adding that damage to public property has so far been limited.
Government and private schools in the wilayats of Dhalkout, Rakhyout and Al Mazyouna in Dhofar Governorate will remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday due to the inclement weather triggered by Tropical Cyclone Tej, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Ministry said a decision to extend the suspension was taken in consultation with the National Centre for Emergency Management, among other authorities, with the goal of ensuring the safety of students and staff.
Classes will resume in the affected schools on Sunday. As for schools in other parts of the governorate, classes resume on Wednesday, the Ministry said.
The National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre said there are chances of the atmosphere of the Sultanate of Oman being affected by a depression during October 26-28.
The Wilayat of Dhalkout in Dhofar Governorate has been witnessing heavy rainfall since the early morning as a result of the direct effects of the Tropical Cyclone, accompanied by strong winds that caused several wadis to flow.
Dhalkout recorded the second highest amount of rain during the period from October 22 to 24 this year, amounting to 240 millimetres. This resulted in the flow of wadis and streams, including Wadi Sayq, Wadi Qahud and Wadi Kharfut. Some roads in Dhalkout were closed, while a power outage was reported in parts of the wilayat.
Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) confirmed that it had received a request from the Ministry of Health to assist in the evacuation of two patients from Shahab Asaib. In a statement, RAFO said it had dispatched a helicopter to Shahab Asaib, from where the individuals were picked up and transported to Salalah Hospital.
The Basic Services Sector, responsible for providing essential services in the cyclone-impacted areas, has been fully mobilised in restoring some services in wilayats affected by Tej.
Personnel and equipment despatched by the Basic Services Department helped to clear fallen rocks that had left the Hadbeen-Hasik road in Sadah temporarily closed.
Electricity has been restored to most of the wilayats of Dhofar Governorate, and work is underway to restore power in some villages and towns in the western parts of the governorate. Communications networks in the governorate are working normally.
Medical staff in Dhofar Governorate are also standing by to provide any assistance. The Ministry of Health has activated the Emergency Case Management Centre in Dhofar Governorate for medical support in conjunction with the measures taken to mitigate the possible effects of Tropical Cyclone Tej.
A special medical team is on round-the-clock alert to respond to any emergencies. Medical staff have also been assigned to the medevac service on standby in the governorate. Backed by surgeons, specialists in internal medicine and orthopaedists, the team has been primed to enable the transfer of patients to suitably equipped hospitals should their relocation be necessitated by the storm.
According to Maj Tariq bin Awad al Shanfari from the Department of Security Relations and Media of the Royal Oman Police (ROP), a number of neighbourhoods in the wilayats of Rakhyout and Dhalkout have suffered blackouts due the storm. Efforts are underway to restore supply at the earliest, he said.
Furthermore, the main road near Khor Al Mughsail has been temporarily closed to vehicles due to overflows from the nearby wadi, Maj Al Shanfari said.
Rescue teams and crews have been deployed to affected areas to respond to any storm-related contingencies as and when they erupt, he said, adding that damage to public property has so far been limited.