Yemen escapes worst of tropical storm Luban

Cyclone Luban weakened as it hit land in eastern Yemen yesterday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to large parts of Mahrah province.

The worst-affected areas were the central city of Ghaidhah, southern areas of Mahrah and Haswein district. Sources in the province said several homes were damaged by flooding but no casualties were reported.

Luban, which weakened from a Category 1 cyclone, appeared to have missed the Yemeni island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean, where there were fears of a repeat of the heavy flooding and devastation wrought by Cyclone Mekunu in May. Socotra resident Rahmo Khamees told The National the island experienced only light showers and winds and the sea was relatively calm.

But residents stayed indoors and some of those living near the coast moved to shelters set up by the Emirates Red Crescent in parts of the island. Fishermen dragged boats inland and residents kept livestock in their shelters, Mr Khamees said.

In Mukalla, capital of Hadramawt province, west of Mahrah, skies were cloudy but there was no rain, said Saleh Askool, a resident of the coastal city.

Mr Askool said residents had been making emergency preparations as the storm approached but it appeared to have headed towards areas to the east, such as Kusaier and Al Raiyda districts in Hadramawt, which were expecting heavy rain.

In Oman, the southern province of Dhofar experienced heavy rains and occasional thunderstorms, with winds of between 40kph and 50kph, the

Times of Oman reported. Residents were warned to avoid crossing wadis and to stay away from low-lying areas for fear of floods.

Luban was a Category 1 cyclone as it approached southern Oman and Yemen, triggering fears of torrential rains, flooding and landslides.