BBC: Thousands flee Oman storm threat [strongest to hit the Arabian Peninsula since 1945]

BBC ^ | Tuesday, 5 June 2007, 11:57 GMT 12:57 UK | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thousands flee Oman storm threat

Muscat residents evacuated as storm clouds gathered

An unusually powerful cyclone has begun battering the coast of Oman with winds of 160mph (260 km/h) and large waves.

The centre of Tropical Cyclone Gonu is heading north-west through the Indian Ocean towards Oman's east coast.

Thousands of residents of coastal regions and the low-lying offshore island of Masirah have been evacuated.

People elsewhere have been told to stay indoors, while schools and public building have been emptied to make room for the evacuees.

The most powerful part of the storm was expected to hit Oman on Thursday, before moving north across the Gulf to Iran.

"It is expected to increase in the coming few hours accompanied by thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls as the cyclone crosses the sultanate," the official news agency of the wealthy oil-exporter said, quoting police.

Reports say Cyclone Gonu is expected to be the strongest to hit the Arabian Peninsula since records started in 1945.

While crossing the Indian Ocean on Monday it reached the equivalent of a Category Five hurricane - the highest category available.

[bikerMD]

Is oil up to $400/barrel yet?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Indian ocean

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[sageb1]

"While crossing the Indian Ocean on Monday it reached the equivalent of a Category Five hurricane - the highest category available."

Did someone try to order something else? ;)

[Badeye]

Yep, thats it....(chuckle)

You haven’t live the IO til you’ve been to Diego Garcia.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

US Navy may be impacted....oil Tankers certainly will......

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[dfwgator]

Is FEMA handing out checks yet?

[sageb1]

Where are our big guns? Safe? Or outta there?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From MarketWatch...............

12:20 July crude falls 76 cents, or 1.2%, to $65.45/brl

[VocalObserver]

Weren't people saying that Katrina hit the U.S. because of our evil ways???

[fella]

This is Bush’s Fault.

[bikerMD]

July crude falls 76 cents, or 1.2%, to $65.45/brl

Impossible...LOL. (:^*)

[GQuagmire]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think some of the Carriers are in the persian Gulf....so according to the storm track they should be OK..

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Persian Gulf Map:

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[bikerMD]

Do you think the Navy will let the guys from Cable and Wireless in the shelters with them?

[buffyt]

we were scheduled to move there in 2 years

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

[Bigh4u2]

“Weren’t people saying that Katrina hit the U.S. because of our evil ways???”

Yes. And some of those people are the ones being hit now.

[Thrownatbirth]

US Navy may be impacted....

CNO used to call hurricanes "training opportunities" in the 70s. I guess they got tired of paying the damage bills.

[Badeye]

‘Do you think the Navy will let the guys from Cable and Wireless in the shelters with them?’

Sure, as long as they agree not to harm the Queens Coconut Crabs....(chuckle)