Oman prepares for the worst, as Cyclone Mekunu intensifies

Huge floods engulfed the southern Omani city of Salalah on Friday, as Cyclone Mekunu edged closer to landfall with category-three hurricane winds battering the coastline.

Field response units were forced to suspend services due to dangerous conditions with low-lying areas submerged as wadis overflowed. The worst believed yet to come.

The cyclone is now just 50km from Dhofar's coastline and winds - currently at least 160km per hour - are intensifying, throwing up waves up to 12 metres in height.

Oman authorities urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate to emergency shelters or stay indoors if safe to do so.

Civil defence teams have already evacuated 10,000 residents in the area.

Blackouts and water shortages have beenn reported with the eye of the storm set to hit Dhofar in the coming hours.

Salalah's port and airport have been closed in anticipation of the storm, while some phone companies offering free messages to residents.

Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah has been evacuated, according to local media, as Oman's second city is expected to receive around two years of rain in just one day.

Cyclone Mekenu hit Socotra on Thursday, with at least 40 people missing at sea following the storm. Meteorologists are expecting much stronger winds and rain when the storm makes landfall in Oman.

Oman has experienced several large storms in recent years, including Cyclone Gonu which caused around $4 billion of damage and killed at least 49 people.

— Nagaraj (@rajuvijai) May 25, 2018 " style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post My bestie trying his best to weather #CycloneMekunu in Salalah, Oman... The winds are moving at a speed of 175-200 kmph... pic.twitter.com/EQRDfnlUJA — Nagaraj (@rajuvijai) May 25, 2018