Parts of Omani beach area to be evacuated next week

Muscat: A part of the Sawadi coastal area in Barka will be evacuated as the Sultanate participates in a simulated tsunami test in the Indian Ocean on September 4.
Oman is set to participate in the Indian Ocean Wave 18 on September 4. The regional exercise is being organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
The exercise is held every two years and is attended by all countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The Sultanate has previously participated in this exercise to test its readiness with tsunami risks.
The exercise will simulate a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Iran, that will generate simulated tsunami waves traveling across the Indian Ocean basin towards the coast of the Sultanate in less than half an hour.
The estimated height of the simulated wave will about 12 metres, flooding the beaches at 0600 hrs UTC on September 4.
Accordingly, part of the Sawadi area in Wilayat Barka in South Batinah will be evacuated in order to raise awareness of the risks of the tsunami and enhance the preparedness for these condition at the community level.