At least nine people tragically lost their lives in Oman due to severe flooding, as floodwaters swept away their vehicles on Sunday.
Among the victims were six students, two residents, and one expatriate, as reported by the Oman News Agency (ONA). Furthermore, the search continues for eight individuals who remain missing as a result of the deluge.
Torrential rains pounded various regions of Oman, triggering flash floods that inundated vast areas. Local residents discovered a child's body at Wadi Al Batha in Al Mudhaibi, prompting the Royal Oman Police to announce the devastation via Twitter.
Throughout the day, distress calls poured in from stranded individuals across different settings, including roads, subways, schools, and residential or commercial buildings. Responding swiftly, police and rescue teams mobilized to assist those in peril, while courageous residents joined forces to rescue others. Dramatic scenes unfolded, with citizens wading through waist-deep waters, carrying children on their backs, and utilizing ropes to pull people to safety.
One particularly dire situation unfolded at Wadi Samad Al Shan, where water levels surged unexpectedly, breaching the premises of Rawda School in the Al Ghazal area and trapping occupants inside. Field teams comprising the Royal Oman Police, the Royal Army of Oman, the Civil Defense Authority, and ambulance crews sprang into action, evacuating students to safer locations with assistance from local residents. The force of the floodwaters swept parked vehicles away, highlighting the immense power of the current.
In a separate incident, police aviation units rescued students stranded in a vehicle swept into a valley stream in the Samad Al-Shaan district. While some individuals remain unaccounted for, those rescued have been transported to Ibra Reference Hospital for medical attention.
The Royal Oman Police continue their relentless efforts, conducting rescue operations for 20 individuals stranded in three houses at Wadi bin Khalid, Al Qahm area. Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, schools and colleges in Oman have been instructed to transition to distance learning on Monday, April 15, following an order issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation.
