FIFTEEN Bahraini students in Muscat were moved to safety yesterday after they sought help as Cyclone Shaheen bore down on Oman, packing heavy winds and rains and threatening a potential storm surge.
Bahrain’s ambassador to Oman Dr Juma Al Kaabi told the GDN that a 24x7 hotline had seen set up to help its citizens.
So far, no incidents or injuries have been reported from amongst the 300 Bahrainis residing in the sultanate.
Bus and ferry services across all governorates have been stopped, while several flights to and from the capital, Muscat, have been suspended or delayed.
The tropical storm is the second in history to make landfall through the Gulf of Oman – the previous one was in 1890.
Dr Al Ka’abi
“We received calls from 15 Bahrainis – all students – who were living near the beaches and they have been moved to hotels in safe areas,” said Dr Al Kaabi who is in Muscat, monitoring the situation.
“All of them are safe and the embassy is co-ordinating to ensure assistance for Bahrainis – we have 300 citizens, of which 100 are students and rest are families and business owners.
“So far, we have not received any reports on incidents or injuries.”
Traced back to a low-pressure area situated over the Bay of Bengal in September, the cyclone was named Gulab (rose) by Indian Meteorological Department. On September 26, Gulab made landfall in India and weakened overland, and early on October 1, re-strengthened into a cyclonic storm, Shaheen (falcon) – a name provided by Qatar.
Bahrain’s embassy in Muscat is actively co-ordinating on its social media to assist nationals in need, as local authorities have announced a two-day closure of all government and private establishments in the country.
“The warning is mainly for those living near beaches where the concern is more. It’s raining heavily in Muscat and all roads are flooded,” said the envoy, adding that the reopening of educational institutions could be delayed.
The flood has not affected the mission, located in Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat.
The national emergency committee said the power supply would be cut in Al Qurm, east of the capital, to avoid accidents while more than 2,700 people were put up in emergency shelters.
The cyclone is also expected to cause variation in temperatures in Bahrain with days getting hotter, said Amman-based Arabia Weather, a team of meteorologists, researchers and developers on the regional weather data.
“The weather will be hot in Bahrain during the day in the coming days. Temperatures will exceed the barrier of 40C in parts of Qatar during the second half of the week, while it will be 30C in Bahrain,” it added.
It also forecast fluctuating winds, with a noticeable rise in surface humidity, especially at night, causing fog in parts of the kingdom which it said can be ‘sometimes dense’ leading to decreased vision.
Meanwhile, the UAE is bracing for the cyclone as meteorologists have forecast that some of its regions – including Al Ain, the southern and some central regions – could be affected.
“As a precautionary measure and to ensure the safety of everyone, it is prohibited for the public to visit beaches, valleys and lowlands,” said UAE’s National, Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority spokesman Dr Taher Al Ameri.
raji@gdn.com.bh
Bahrainis in Oman have been urged to call the hotline numbers (+968-24605133, +968-98855078) for help.
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