NATION MOURNS
Death toll rises to 18, including 10 children Kamzar and Lima evacuated Work from home in Musandam, Buraimi, Dhahirah, North Batinah and Dakhliyah on Tuesday
The death toll resulting from heavy rains and flash floods in the sultanate rose to 18, including ten children, on Monday.
In response to exceptional weather conditions expected, work has been suspended for government and private sector employees on Tuesday with a shift to remote work protocols. The directive applies to Musandam, Buraimi, Dhahirah, North Batinah and Dakhliyah governorates.
The villages of Kamzar and Lima in Musandam have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Rescue teams of Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) found the body of a missing child and another person in the Samad al Shaan area of Mudhaibi in North Sharqiyah on Monday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the bodies of a woman and a man were found. Both were reported missing in North Sharqiyah on Sunday.
Two people lost their lives when a vehicle with four occupants was swept away in a wadi in Adam, Dakhliyah, on Monday. CDAA teams were able to recover bodies of the two, while a search and rescue operation continues for the remaining two individuals.
In Mahout, Al Wusta, a vehicle with four passengers got stuck in an overflowing wadi. While two passengers were rescued, two are still missing.
78 reports of stranding, outage
Concerned authorities are making concerted efforts to contain the effects of the inclement weather currently hitting Oman.
Lt Col Mohammed bin Salam al Hashimi, spokesperson of the Joint Media Committee of National Emergency Management Centre and National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre, informed that a total of 78 reports related to the weather condition were addressed till Monday afternoon.
"We received reports about power and communications network outages, as well as incidents of individuals being trapped in their homes and wadis, mostly in North Sharqiyah and South Sharqiyah."
Hashimi added that among the calls received on Monday was one involving 50 people being stranded in Mahout, Al Wusta. In response, Royal Air Force of Oman dispatched an aircraft to transport the victims to a safe shelter, where all necessities were provided.
“In North Sharqiyah, five families have been accommodated in a shelter centre. Many such centres have been prepared in other governorates."
Disruptions in communication services have been reported at several locations. “Work is continuing to restore services in 47 communication stations, 43 of which are in North Sharqiyah,” Hashimi added.
Reports of road disruptions were concentrated in the governorates of North Sharqiyah, South Sharqiyah and Dakhliyah, including major links like the Izki-sinaw and Sinaw-adam roads.
Secondary roads in Jalan Bani Bu Ali, Ibri, Mudhaibi, Izki and Al Hamra were also damaged. “These reports are being followed up in coordination with the essential services sector."
Official visit
H E Said bin Hamood al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, undertook an official visit to North Sharqiyah on Monday. The purpose of the visit was to assess the impact of the ongoing weather condition on the region's roads.
He was accompanied by H E Khamis bin Mohammed al Shamakhi, Undersecretary for Transport, Mahmoud bin Yahya al Thuhli, Governor of North Sharqiyah, and a delegation from the ministry.
The visiting delegation focused on evaluating the condition of roads affected by the rains. Following discussions with local authorities, they collaborated to develop repair plans and effective strategies to address the situation promptly.
Air ambulance
The Ministry of Health reported the successful completion of an air ambulance mission in South Batinah on Monday. A ministry statement said, ‘A critical medical case in the village of Hat in wilayat of Rustaq required emergency airlift. The Medical Response and Public Health Sector coordinated with South Batinah Governorate Police Command and Royal Air Force of Oman to ensure swift and safe transport of the patient to Al Rustaq Hospital.’
Among the calls received on Monday was one involving 50 people being stranded in Mahout, Al Wusta. In response, Royal Air Force of Oman dispatched an aircraft to transport the victims to a safe shelter LT COL MOHAMMED AL HASHIMI
Schools to remain closed
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has extended the suspension of classes to all governorates except Dhofar and Al Wusta on Tuesday due to the inclement weather affecting the sultanate.
In a statement, MOE said, ‘Public, private and international schools across all governorates will remain closed on Tuesday, April 16, due to unstable weather conditions. However, this decision does not apply to Dhofar and Al Wusta. Classes can be conducted online based on available resources.’