2023-10-22 14:25:00
22 October 2023, 07:55 PM IST –
Salalah: Cyclone Tej approaches Oman coast. The Meteorological Department has warned that it is likely to intensify into a Category 4 tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours. Rain started in Dhofar region. With this, a public holiday has been declared for Dhofar region tomorrow and the day following. Officials said people living in coastal areas should move to shelters.
According to weather chart analysis at the National Multi Hazards and Early Warning Center, the extremely intense cyclone, which is currently a category three, will continue to move in a northwesterly direction towards the coasts of Dhofar Governorate and Al-Mahra Governorate in Yemen. The sea is likely to be rough and the waves will reach four to seven meters. Heavy rains of 50 to 150 mm will flood the valleys. Low-lying areas are also likely to be submerged.
The cyclone is currently located southwest of the Arabian Sea at regarding 12.9 degrees north latitude and 54.7 degrees east longitude. It is 450 km from the coast of Oman. Wind speeds around the center range from 100-112 knots. The nearest rain cloud is located regarding 140 km from the coast of Sada Vilayet. It is expected to intensify into a Category 4 tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.
A meteorologist at the National Multi-Hazards and Early Warning Center said that the cyclone is regarding 450 km off the coast of Oman and will intensify into a Category 4 cyclone later. The direct impact of the cyclone is expected to begin tonight in Dhofar and Al Wusta. The maximum impact is expected on October 23 and 24. Muwassalat Muscat-Haima-Salala (Route 100) and Muscat-Marmool-Salala (Route 102) bus services were suspended in Dhofar region due to the cyclone. Al Halaniyat – Thaqa ferry services were also suspended. However, officials said operations to Shanna-Masira route and all routes to Musandam Governorate will continue.
All public and private institutions in Dhofar Governorate and Al Jazeer Wilayat of Al Wusta Governorate have been declared closed on Monday and Tuesday. Heritage tourist centers in the Dhofar region and Salalah port were closed. The Ministry of Education had already announced a two-day holiday for educational institutions in the region. People will be evacuated from Halaniat Islands in Dhofar and coastal areas in Salalah, Rakhut and Dalkhut provinces in the wake of Cyclone Tej warning. Al Daharis and New Salalah Health Centers were closed from 2.30pm on Sunday. The decision was taken considering the safety of patients and visitors. However, Saada and Salalah Al Gharbia health centers will operate as normal.
Ministry of Health Hotline launched. For health emergencies, contact numbers 1212 and 2444199. Oman’s Ministry of Health has decided to evacuate all emergency cases from Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah. These patients will be transferred to the building of the Cardiac Medicine and Surgery Center in Salalah and the emergency department of the Armed Forces Hospital in Salalah. The National Committee for Emergency Management announced that emergency shelters have been activated across Dhofar. The National Emergency Management Committee has requested all people living in areas expected to be hit by the cyclone to move to the nearest shelter. For urgent needs, the Relief and Shelter Sector Operations Center can be called on 23373805. The Civil Aviation Authority advised citizens and residents to take maximum precautions and avoid going into the sea, crossing the plains and avoiding low-lying areas.
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