Seven people were missing and hundreds of others evacuated from their homes after Cyclone Mekunu hit the Yemeni island of Socotra late on Wednesday, causing severe flooding and damage to houses, officials said.
Yemen high commision declared Socotra as a disaster zone, and called upon the Saudi-led coalition for help. While all communications from the island have been cut, a clear picture of the situation on the ground is not yet available.Two ships off socotra island have been reported missing this morning, according to a Yemeni newspaper.
According to an Oman Police tweet, the cyclone will hit Dhofar and Al Wusta coasts on Friday. Public have been urged to be cautious and not to go near wadis (valley) because of flash floods.
"Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Mekunu" in the Arabian Sea will strengthen over the next few days, with sustained winds reaching 100 mph. This is expected to make landfall on Friday night, most likely in southwest Oman pic.twitter.com/ZnMf48vQMo
— Met Office (@metoffice) May 23, 2018
It is expected to be a high-intensity category 2 cyclone very soon.
Four of the missing were crew on board a boat that sunk when the storm hit the island in the Arabian Sea, a fisheries ministry official told AFP.
Another official said that 150 families had been evacuated and moved to government facilities after downpours caused houses and streets to flood, trapping people in their homes.
#شاهد عملية إخلاء #جزر_الحلانيات من المواطنين والمقيمين إلى مناطق آمنة #بحر_العرب #ميكونو #makunu pic.twitter.com/W9uNOfWjUg
— شبكة عمان المحلية (@OMN_4) May 23, 2018
Some residents carrying children tried to escape through the flooded streets, an AFP correspondent said.
Authorities called on humanitarian organisations and the Saudi-led military coalition that is battling Huthi rebels in the country to help, according to state-run news agency Saba.
In neighbouring Oman, authorities announced through the official news agency they were taking "necessary precautions" in case the cyclone hits Oman.
What are the expected effects on the UAE?
A medium range forecast from Numerical Weather Prediction shows no direct effects caused by the cyclone in the UAE. However, indirect effects expected is continuous moist air mass, which will enhance the chance of convective developments at times over the Eastern and Southern regions over the UAE.
The National Center of Meteorology is observing the weather condition and will apprise the public of the cyclone situation.
The National Center of Meteorology has requested that Emiratis and residents of the UAE keep following the updates, reports, forecasts issued by The National Center of Meteorology only, and never handle fake news.
#المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) May 23, 2018
مُتابعة #مستجدات_الحالة_المدارية #مكونو
#بحر_العرب pic.twitter.com/k7oKblRkH9
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