Flash Floods

On 11, 12 and 13 December Muscat and some other parts of Oman experienced heavy rainfall (by Gulf standards). Muscat received 16 to 18 mm of rain during these days which I think is the annual average. The advent of rain was a welcome sight but it had a sad fallout. Some of the areas which are bordered by hills were hit by flash floods wreaking havoc in their wake. This is a common occurence whenever it rains and the Government makes it a point to issue cautionary notices to be careful and to avoid 'wadis' (dry river beds or runoffs where roads often criss cross each other). At some known dangerous points, the Royal Oman Police even put road blocks to discourage road users. On 11 December some foolhardy people paid no heed to such advisories and ten lives were lost. One of them was an employee from my company who had just spent a month and a half in Muscat before he got swept away and died. Flash floods are very dangerous and can cause untold devastation in a split second. Vehicles of all sizes were tossed around like corks and were battered beyond recognition, a sight I happened to witness later. Rains are a welcome phenomena in Oman but one needs to be wary of the fury of nature.