LOC16:10
13:10 GMT
MUSCAT, May 26 (KUNA) -- At least two people have been confirmed dead and three others reported missing as Cyclone Mekunu pounded Dhofar governorate in south of the Sultanate on Saturday, a civil defense body announced.
Search operations are ongoing for the three missing persons, who are of Asian nationalities, Major Faisal Al-Hajri, Director of the Executive Office for the National Committee for Civil Defense said in a press statement.
So far, there are no further reports about other dead or missing persons, Al-Hajri confirmed, noting the heavy rainfall on several areas of Dhofar province caused major flooding in valleys and overflowing in dams.
NCCD is currently working around the clock to rehabilitate some roads and highways that were damaged by the floods, he said, pointing out damage caused to Port of Salalah and that work is currently underway to restore them within the next two hours.
Earlier, the Omani Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) downgraded Cyclone Mekunu to category one with wind speed reaching below 154 kmph.
Heavy rain continued to fall on Dhofar and Al-Wusta governorates, resulting in accumulated rainwater between 200-400 ml and floods, PACA said in a press statement. (pickup previous)
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