Oman braces for another tropical cyclone

Dubai, Oct 31 (UNI) Three months after being devastated by Gonu, another tropical cyclone can hit Oman in a day or two, according to the Meteorological Department.

Tropical Cyclone Gonu struck Oman's eastern coast, capital city Muscat and the northern parts of the country in June, causing extensive damage and loss of lives, particularly due to flooding that followed torrential rain for three days.

According to the latest forecast, the currently unnamed cyclone known as tropical cyclone 05a, meteorological officials expect winds to reach speed of around 40 knots.

''At the moment the storm has winds of around 25 knots,'' Ahmad Saeed Nasser of the Meteorological Department in Dhofar Governorate was quoted by Gulf News as saying.

''The low pressure system located over the Arabian Sea has formed into a storm and could hit the southern Omani coast around today,'' he added.

He said the low pressure over the Arabian Sea was now centred approximately 850 km away from Sadah in Dhofar Governorate.

''The storm is expected to bring with it thunder, heavy rain and subsequent flooding in the Dhofar region,'' he said.

The Met department had already sent forecast reports to the relevant authorities and preparations were being made to deal with any eventuality.

UNI