Two kids drown as authorities say stay away from water

@lakshmioman –

Two children, one aged 9 years and the other 10 -years old, drowned in the Wilayat of Rustaq in pools of water although citizens tried to rescue them, said Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority on Friday as heavy rains flooded wadis and threw traffic out of gear in several parts of the Sultanate of Oman. The authority said an Asian national’s body was found in a wadi in Jabal Shams. A CDAA team is searching for an Asian who fell into the sea from a high area in Raysut, in the Dhofar Governorate.

The Royal Oman Police is carrying out a search for three who went missing after their vehicle drifted in Wadi Ahin in the Wilayat of Suhar.

Authorities have requested the public to keep the three days of Eid celebrations safe by staying from water. There are chances of heavy rain and flash floods are expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Hamoud al Naabi, weather forecaster of Oman Met Office which comes under Civil Aviation Authority, said, “Expect heavy rains in the afternoon and evening over Al Hajar mountains and Dhofar mountains and the coastal areas. Areas around Hajar mountains and coastal areas of Oman Sea would not be able to prepare shuwa on the second day of Eid Al Adha. They will have to push it to the third day of Eid.”

According to Hamoud, the amount of rainfall is expected to range between 20 mm and 60 mm.

“We recorded some precipitation on Al Hajar mountains on Friday and will increase on Saturday especially over the mountains and coastal areas of Dhofar Governorate, as well as coastal areas of Al Wusta. We expect the amount of rainfall to range between 20 mm to 60 mm,” said Hamoud.

The weather forecaster said the highest amount of rainfall is expected to be in South al Batinah, North Al Batinah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Buraimi, Dhahirah, North and South Al Sharqiyah.

“We expect Flash floods because we have been recording rainfall for two days and the land is saturated with water. So it is easy to trigger off flash floods,” pointed out Al Naabi. He added, “Please ensure children do not go into water and play.”

“One should not venture out into sea or try sailing because the sea state is rough. The Oman Sea and the Arabian Sea are going through rough conditions especially from Ras al Had in Al Sharqiyah to Dhalkout in the the Dhofar Governorate,” warned Al Naabi.

The Royal Oman Police is carrying out a search for three who went missing after their vehicle drifted in Wadi Ahin in the Wilayat of Suhar.

The CDAA has called on business owners to alert their workers and transfer them to safe places, until the official authorities announce the end of the adverse weather.

The Authority’s Operations Center reported the death of an Asian national in a wadi in Jabal Shams.

The CDAA has requested public to avoid swimming in undesignated areas and wadis

In their request to citizens and residents, they stated, “For your safety during rain, avoid standing near lighting and electrical poles, and beware of dangling wires.”

It asked parents to protect children by not allowing them to play near wadis and water bodies. “Do not spoil the joy of Eid by crossing the overflowing wadis.”