Eighteen people, mostly students, have died due to floods in Oman caused by heavy rainfall since Sunday, according to authorities. The Oman News Agency reported on Monday evening, citing the search and rescue sector of the National Emergency Management system, that "the body of a person" was found in the South Sharqiyah Governorate, bringing the total death toll to 17. Earlier on Monday, the agency reported the discovery of the bodies of three people and a child, in addition to registering "12 deaths from being swept away in their vehicles" which included two citizens, a foreigner, and nine students in the North Sharqiyah Governorate, located about 150 km from the capital, Muscat.
Since Sunday, the country has been experiencing thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, leading to floods in several areas in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Most public and private schools were closed on Monday, and students were taking lessons remotely. The Omani Air Force has intervened dozens of times since Sunday to rescue citizens stranded due to the floods, according to the National Emergency Management Center.
Weather conditions in Oman are expected to peak on Tuesday and continue until Wednesday evening. In the coming hours, other Gulf countries, including Bahrain and the UAE, are expected to be affected.
