| Tropical Cyclone Gonu
6 JUNE According to the RSMC forecasting centre in New Delhi, Gonu is currently presenting with maximum sustained wind speeds of 80 knots, gusting to 90 knots. This is the equivalent of a category one, verging on category two, hurricane. Severe thunderstorms and storm surges associated with the storm, as well as the high winds, which are above the design-criteria of some buildings and structures in the region, mean that severe business continuity problems can be expected in the region in the next few days. In anticipation of this, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has declared that all government and public offices will close from today (6th June) until the end of Saturday (9th June). Private sector companies were also told to close for the period. The Oman Ministry of Education has assigned a number of schools in the Governorate of Muscat to be used as emergency shelters. This page will be updated with relevant business continuity and disaster recovery information as the situation develops. Refresh your browser to ensure you are reading the latest version. UPDATED 15.00 BST - Strong winds and high seas are also reported to be affecting the eastern coast of the UAE. The Corniche Road in the township of Kalba is under water, and a state of emergency has been declared in the Emirate of Fujeirah in the UAE. People living closer to the sea have been evacuated. - UAE H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has pledged the UAE's full support for Oman, saying that the UAE will provide assistance to help Oman recover from any damage caused by the cyclone. (Emirates News Agency, WAM) * Cyclone Gonu lashed Oman with heavy rains and winds on Wednesday, as thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas in the Gulf state and neighbouring Iran for the strongest tropical storm to hit the region in 30 years. * Flights were suspended at Oman's Muscat airport but the cyclone has not so far affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. * Cyclone Gonu was initially packing winds of 260 kilometres (160 miles) an hour but they have now dropped to between 120 and 176 kilometres (70 and 105 miles) an hour, Omani weather officials said. * Iran also evacuated residents living on the coast or river banks in southern provinces further inland to escape the storm, expected to hit in the coming hours although downpours were already drenching coast areas. * The southern ports of Bandar-e Jask and Chahbahar were set to be the worst affected by rain, possible floods and waves up to five metres (16 feet) high. * In Oman, the army, police and civil defence have all been mobilised and a police officer said about 18,000 people been evacuated across the country. UPDATED 9.30 BST, 7TH JUNE - Cyclone Gonu has left 12 people dead in Oman. - Electricity and phone lines have been cut off in all eastern areas in Oman. UPDATED 13.30 BST, 7TH JUNE Cyclone not having impact on ADNOC production operations and offshore platforms: ADNOC
- Some storm experts in the region said the severity of the storm in Chabahar and Konarak port cities had been unprecedented in the past 30 years. - The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Lines, HOMA, cancelled its entire flights from Konarak Port International Air Port for 48 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions. -The electricity networks of Chabahar and Konarak port cities were destroyed - some service has been resumed but technicians are still working to restore the remainder. - Cyclone Gonu lashed Bandar Abbas port city and various parts of Hormozgan Province at around 17.;45 pm Wednesday night with strong winds measured at 200 kilometers per hour cutting off electricity, and causing fires in some city locations. - Residents of Iran's Qeshm and Lark islands were evacuated and asked not to return to their cities at least till Thursday afternoon and in Jask torrential rains led to floods. - The height of waves due to Gonu were as high as 12 meters on Oman's shores. UPDATED 11.00 BST 12TH JUNE - Gonu is reported to have been the strongest tropical storm recorded in the Gulf region since 1945; it left at least 30 people dead in Oman, while 40 people lost their lives in Iran. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue workers reach remote areas isolated by flooding. - The Iranian Red Crescent Society pursued a strategy of pre-positioning emergency stocks in key areas of the country and of training relief and rescue workers at branch and national levels. - In Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has issued Royal orders to set-up two committees; the first one to be headed by the Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court will be tasked with assessment and inventory of damages inflicted on citizens’ houses and properties. The second committee, to be headed by the Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council will be tasked with repair of the infrastructure, such as, roads, bridges, electric and water connections and other affected services. Reconstruction will ensure that repaired infrastructure is hardened to make it more resilient against the potential impact of future storms of Gonu’s strength. Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also issued orders that attention should be given to building protective levees in areas where storm-surge floods occurred. - On June 11th the Municipal Council of Muscat held an extraordinary meeting where chairman Eng. Abdullah bin Abbas bin Ahmed gave a briefing on infrastructure damage, particularly road networks, bridges, buildings and public utilities. The council discussed action plans to tackle the storm effects, which included opening up canals to discharge stagnant flood water into the sea.
•Date: 6th June 2007 • Region: M.East •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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