FLASH FLOODS BECOMING A REGULAR AFFAIR IN OMAN
The Sultanate of Oman has been witnessing cases related to, including flash floods, after every low-pressure system that affects the country.
Sunday’s flash floods in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate took the lives of 17 people, including 10 children and a woman.
National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change for the Sultanate of Oman (20202040), urban expansion in the Sultanate of Oman typically does not account well for risks of flooding.
Floods can cause serious damage to urban areas and infrastructure such as government and private properties, transportation systems and power and water supply.
These risks have increased substantially over the last 50 years.
According to the report, global sea levels are projected to continue to rise as the world warms, increasing mean sea level rise at the local level.
According to experts, rainfall is highly variable in the Sultanate of Oman, exceeding over 350 mm in the mountains and less than 50 mm in some places.
Wadi Bani Khalid received 160 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, Al Mudhaibi and Ibra 126 mm, and Sinaw 126m.
Floods in the Sultanate of Oman occur as flash floods with little warning, causing property damage, community disruption and at times loss of lives.
Speaking to the Observer, a citizen from Sur said, “Such floods are becoming regular because we are receiving huge amounts of rain in a short period instead of spread over a few days or weeks.” Most floods take place abruptly and people are bound to get stranded on roads that are inundated with flood water.
Several natives admitted that governorates of Al Sharqiyah North and Al Sharqiyah South are becoming increasingly vulnerable to flash floods after torrential or even moderate rains.