Strongest cyclone kills at least 6 after savage strike on Oman, Yemen

SALALAH, Oman－Oman on Sunday advised all private sector establishments in Dhofar region to shut down for three days after Cyclone Mekunu hit the southern part of the Gulf Arab country, causing extensive damage that halted operations at Salalah port.

A cyclone more powerful than any previously recorded in southern Oman slammed into the country and neighboring Yemen on Saturday, deluging a major city with nearly three years' worth of rainfall in single day. The storm killed at least six people while more than 30 remain missing, officials said.

Cyclone Mekunu caused flash flooding that tore away whole roadways and submerged others in Salalah, Oman's third-largest city, stranding drivers. Strong winds knocked over streetlights and tore away roofing.

Rushing waters from the rain and storm surges flooded typically dry creek beds. The holiday destination's now-empty tourist beaches were littered with debris and foam from the churning Arabian Sea.

Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, died in Oman, and another two bodies were recovered from the Yemeni island of Socotra. More than 30 people were still missing in Socotra, including Yemeni, Indian and Sudanese nationals.

Yemeni officials also reported damage in the country's far east, along the border with Oman. Rageh Bakrit, the governor of al-Mahra province, said on his official Twitter account late on Friday that strong winds had blown down houses and taken out communication lines and water services. He said there were no fatalities in the province.

India's Meteorological Department said the storm packed maximum sustained winds of 170-180 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 200 km/h. It called the cyclone "extremely severe".

Portions of Salalah, home to some 200,000 people, lost power as the cyclone made landfall.

Branches and leaves littered the streets. Several underpasses became standing lakes. Some cars were left abandoned on the road. Electrical workers began trying to repair lines in the city while police and soldiers in SUVs patrolled the streets.

The airport, closed since Thursday, will reopen early on Sunday, Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation said. The Port of Salalah, a key gateway for the country and for Qatar amid a regional diplomatic dispute, remained closed, its cranes secured against the pounding rain and winds.

Omani forecasters said Salalah and the surrounding area would get at least 200 millimeters of rain, over twice the city's annual downfall. It actually received 278.2 mm, nearly three times its annual rainfall.

Humanitarian aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates arrived on the island hours after the cyclone receded.

AP