Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Residents and Oman’s farmers have been warned over starting fires as high winds make them almost impossible to contain and control. Emergency crews were run ragged dealing with farm fires yesterday and helped tackle five different blazes, all of which could have been avoided.
High winds and dust storms have prompted safety warnings from Royal Oman Police, Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) and experts.
Strong winds reported in Oman early on Sunday morning are set to continue, according to the Public Authority for Civil Aviation. Parts of Oman will witness strong gusts of wind, with dust expected to lower visibility.
“Currently, active southern winds are blowing in the governorates of Muscat, Buraimi, North Al Sharqiyah, North and South Batinah, causing dust,” the authority’s meteorology department announced, noting that “Horizontal visibility will be poor during blowing dust”.
Meanwhile, PACDA is calling on farmers to refrain from burning waste after winds led to several farm fires on Sunday. “We call on the farm owners and their workers to not burn waste at this time because of active winds for the safety of life and property,” PACDA said.
Experts are calling on the public in areas affected by strong winds to remain indoors and maintain safe distances between vehicles while driving. I would recommend that the public stay indoors, that is the main thing. And keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you because the horizontal visibility will be reduced,” said an official from the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre.
“I would recommend that the public stay indoors, that is the main thing. And keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you because the horizontal visibility will be reduced,” said an official from the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre. “The dust storm that is affecting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will not reach Oman with the same intensity. It will be less intense,” the official added.
Visibility
“In some locations such as Musandam, the horizontal visibility is around 4km and in Al Dhahirah region it is 9km. Nine km is okay, but in Musandam it is very low. Dust will be present mostly in the higher atmosphere, not in the lower atmosphere, so it is optional if someone wants to cover their mouth.”
Other experts warned about the effects a potential dust storm could have on residents.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a family physician from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital said, “The most common symptoms experienced during a dust storm are irritation to the eyes and upper airways. People who may be more vulnerable include children, the elderly, people with respiratory conditions, people with heart disease and diabetes.”
“For these people, exposure to a dust storm may trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks, serious breathing-related problems, or contribute to cardiovascular diseases and reduce life spans. Prolonged exposure to airborne dust can lead to chronic breathing and lung problems and possibly heart disease,” the physician added.
