Cyclone Gonu immediate impact

Cyclone Gonu, in fact Super Cyclonic Storm Gonu, had its greatest impact in Muscat after dark on Wednesday. This also coincided with high tide in the Gulf of Oman near Muscat.

45 Seat Coach after Cyclone Gonu
45 Seat Coach and its owner – after Cyclone Gonu

Some roads were badly damaged and behind my flat the water in one wadi (valley) seems to have reached 15 meters in height across a width of some 50 meters whereas the day before it was dry.

Cyclone Gonu damage near Al Harthy Complex
Guno damage near Al Harthy Complex

Since buildings in Oman are made with steel reinforced concrete most suffered little structural damage.

Cyclone Gonu Oman Oil Mumtaz Ruwi
Gonu Oman Oil Mumtaz Ruwi

Power supplies were cut in Muscat during the night and restored on Thursday morning.

Cyclone Gonu Darsait Muscat
Gonu Darsait Muscat – a pile up of cars 

Towns further down the coast (between Ras al Had and Muscat) seem to have been badly hit.

Cyclone Gonu Wadi Adai
Gonu Wadi Adai – destroyed steel reinforced road and bridge 

The authorities advance warnings must have saved many lives in a country unused to such an event – though the authorities report 12 people died

Author: Tony Walsh

Tony Walsh - author and tour leader through Arabia