Five killed, 40 missing as category one cyclone rips through Yemeni island of Socotra

Oman’s popular tourist destination Salalah could be pounded by winds reaching up to 167 kilometers per hour if Cyclone Mekunu continues on its current path, according to weather experts. Five people were killed and at least 40 missing on the Yemeni island of Socotra yesterday as the cyclone pummelled the area before making its way to the Arabian Peninsula’s southern coast. The dead were four Yemenis and one Indian national, residents and medical sources said, while the missing included Yemenis, Indians and Sudanese. Among those missing were three local sailors lost when their ship capsized off the coast of the island. Yemen declared a state of emergency on Thursday for Socotra, which lies between southern Yemen and the Horn of Africa and is renowned for its unique animal and plant life. Meanwhile, Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) issued a statement yesterday stating that the cyclone was around 150km away from the southern city of Salalah. They also urged people to take “strict precautions” and to stay away from the coast. Strong gale winds and heavy rainfall are expected to hit the costal areas of Dhofar, the statement read, with warnings of flooding. Salalah Port has been evacuated and will remain closed for the next 72 hours. While maximum wave height has been predicted to go as high as 12 meters with expected rising sea level. Director of Meteorology at the UAE weather center, Mohamad Al Ebri, was quoted by Arab News that the cyclone is expected to reach the southern coast of Oman within the next 12 hours, however it is possible that by then the cyclone category would have gone down to level one again. Authorities announced that Salalah International Airport will remain closed for an additional 24 hours due to the severe weather conditions caused by the cyclone.

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