Tropical storm kills three in Oman\, Yemen

Tropical storm kills three in Oman, Yemen

AFP  |  Aden 

At least three people have been killed and 33 injured by flooding in and neighbouring caused by Tropical Storm Luban, the UN and local authorities have said.

Mountains rising to 1,300 metres separate a fertile coastal strip from the infamous Empty Quarter in the vast desert interior.

Most of the Luban's casualties were reported in coastal districts of Mahra, where two people were killed and 33 injured by widespread flooding, the (UNOCHA) said.

In Oman, the civil defence said one man was found dead in Dhofar. governor said on Monday the province had been devastated by the storm.

"The situation is catastrophic in the province and beyond the capabilities of the local authorities," he said, according to the government-run agency.

cited the "failure" of the government's efforts to respond to the "catastrophic" storm as one of the reasons for dismissing late on Monday.

UNOCHA said more than 2,000 families had been significantly affected by the flooding in with many finding emergency shelter in displaced to public buildings.

It warned there were expected to be more casualties and homes washed away in areas that had yet to be reached by emergency teams.

In May, Cyclone Mekunu smashed into southern and the Yemeni island of Socotra, killing at least 11 people.

Residents of Mahra and have long complained of being left to fend for themselves as Hadi's beleaguered government focuses on wars against Huthi rebels, who have controlled the capital and much of the north since 2014, and against jihadists, who have a major presence in neighbouring province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, October 16 2018. 14:40 IST