OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Oman/Iran: Cyclone Gonu
8 June 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report, together with additional information on the 
current crisis is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int. As your 
tool for timely information sharing, please encourage submissions of 
documents and maps by email to submit@reliefweb.int. SITUATION

Cyclone Gonu - the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane - reached Oman's 
coast Wednesday 6 June with fierce winds and torrential rains, forcing 
thousands from their homes and shutting down oil installations. Even 
with the weaker wind speeds, Gonu is believed to be the strongest 
cyclone to threaten the Arabian Peninsula since record-keeping started 
in 1945. The cyclone initially generated winds of 160mph (260km/h) and 
by Thursday afternoon, the storm sustained winds of up to 67 kph (41 
mph), less than half its strength of 153 kph (95 mph) just 24 hours 
earlier, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm, which 
reached the equivalent of a maximum-force Category Five hurricane on 
Tuesday, has been downgraded to a Category One hurricane and on Thursday 
7 June to a Tropical storm.

OMAN

At least 12 deaths were reported in Oman, including members of police 
rescue squads, and others were reported missing, according to the Oman 
Royal Police. In Muscat, the cyclone resulted in abundant rainfall and 
howling winds. Muscat's mountain backdrop added to the havoc. The 
torrential rains that poured onto the bone-dry peaks flowed into canyons 
and dry riverbeds channeling water directly to the city.

Electricity went out in Muscat on Wednesday, and streets and some 
buildings were flooded. The Health Ministry informed that rescue workers 
had trouble reaching affected areas. Authorities used text messages to 
warn people away from low-lying areas. According to the Omani Minister 
of Social Development, more than 20,000 people were evacuated and housed 
in government-provided dwellings, stocked with medicine and supplies. 
Another two islands were completely evacuated. There were reports of 
people trapped in homes in low-lying areas of the capital. Other 
beachfront residents of the city were leaving their homes, all 
threatened by rising tides and large waves pushed by the approaching 
storm.

The storm, however, caused little damage to Oman's oil fields. Tankers 
were prevented from sailing from Omani ports, effectively shutting down 
oil exports, according to the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Authorities also 
closed all operations at the port of Sohar and Qabus in Muscat and 
evacuated 11,000 workers. Sohar's oil refinery and petrochemical plant 
remained running at very low levels, with authorities considering a 
total shutdown on Wednesday.

Stock exchange as well as private and public institutions are closed 
until Saturday, while national carrier Oman Air had halted all flights. 
Flights in and out of Oman's Seeb International Airport were canceled. 
Flights en route to Muscat were diverted to other airports in the 
region.

Oman's eastern provinces were cut off, with heavy rains making the roads 
unusable and communication lines severed. The potential for flash 
flooding was high in Oman and in neighboring countries like the United 
Arab Emirates, as rain washes down from mountains into the desert wadis, 
or dry riverbeds that cut through the desert. There is a potential 
threat of landslides and mud slides when the normally arid mountains get 
lashed with rain.

Authorities declared a State of emergency in Oman's Masirah Island, 
first hit by the storm Tuesday. Troops and police were mobilized to help 
provide shelter and medical services.

Oil prices rose amid forecasts that Gonu is the strongest storm to 
threaten the Arabian Peninsula in 60 years. Analysts suggest that even 
if only some of the tankers are delayed, that could reduce the supply of 
oil and increase prices. However, the storm shouldn't have a major 
impact on prices. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries up to 
40% of world oil supplies, has not been disrupted.

RESPONSE

Over 4,000 trained civil defense personnel were deployed in affected 
areas. Schools prepared to become safe heavens for those who had to flee 
their houses equipped with food, beddings and other necessary 
requirement. Assistance was offered to the Omani government by the Gulf 
Cooperation Countries members, other countries and international 
organizations including UNICEF. The Government of Oman thanked for the 
offer and said its own national resources are adequate for the time 
being. Other international partners were requested to be on standby.

IMPACT ON THE GULF AND SOUTH ASIA

To the north, the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates suspended 
all refueling and ship-to-ship supply operations the world's 
third-largest shipping fuel center. A few ships were sailing through the 
nearby Strait of Hormuz despite 4- to 6-foot swells and strong winds. 
Saudi Arabia did not expect the storm to affect its oil-producing 
regions, which lie well to the west of the generally northward moving 
storm. Saudi King Abdullah offered Oman help in dealing with any 
problems caused by the storm according to the official Spa news agency.

The port city of Karachi in Pakistan is likely to be hit by the cyclone. 
Fishermen in the southwest were told to stay ashore for the next 24 
hours. Rough seas have already damaged dozens of fishing boats in the 
southwestern Baluchistan province.

IRAN

The cyclone has carried on north-west, gradually weakening as it 
approached the Iranian southern coastal provinces of Hormorzgan and 
Sistan Baluchestan, which lie only some 100 kilometres (60 miles) across 
the Gulf from northern Oman. The Organization of Weather of Iran stated 
that there has been 3 killed and 9 injured. Some 11 cities and ports in 
Iran's southern provinces have been hit by GONU. Authorities evacuated 
hundreds of people living in the port city of Chabahr on the coast of 
the Sea of Oman. According to the Iranian state television, floods 
caused by the heavy rainfall cut off some major roads in southeastern 
Iran. Subsequent to the declaration of 'extraordinary situation' in 
Chabahar, the Governor of Chabahar informed that residents living up to 
one kilometer off the sea coast, as well as all offices and the medical 
staff of the Imam Ali hospital have been evacuated and moved to a safe 
place. The staff of Imam Ali Hospital has set up a temporary medical 
emergency camp for any required treatment.

Outer winds from the storm as fast as 220 kph (137 mph) lashed the 
Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, capital of Homorzgan province, 
shattering windows, toppling billboards and trees. Gonu reached Qishm 
Island and caused some damages. Electricity and telephone lines were cut 
off. As a result of Gonu, in Zahedan province, to the north of Sistan 
Baluchestan, around 40,000 people have been evacuated to higher areas. 
There has been more that 120 mm of rain in a day alone, resulting in 
flooding. Sea level has risen considerably. According to Iran's state 
broadcasting company, some small villages in Sistan Baluchistan 
province, on the Gulf of Oman, were still encircled by floods and 
authorities used helicopters to drop emergency supplies. It is expected 
that Gonu will reach South Khorasan, Kerman on Friday. It will end in 
Iran by Friday early evening.

According to Iranian officials, the cyclone was unlikely to threaten the 
country's oil platforms and installations in the Gulf because they are 
located far from its path. However, authorities have prepared for any 
possible difficulty..

RESPONSE

The Government of Iran, the National Disaster Task Force and the Iranian 
Red Crescent Society (IRCS) are fully mobilized and held an emergency 
meeting with the participation of the authorities of Ministries of 
Transportation, Power, Oil, and Revolutionary Guard in the affected 
provinces. Necessary coordination mechanisms were made Radio and TV 
broadcasted programmes to alert inhabitants residing in south and south 
eastern provinces to be prepared for evacuation from coastlines of Oman 
and Persian Gulfs and rivers riparian. The Iranian Red Crescent Society 
dispatched equipment and relief workers from auxiliary provinces and 
determined places for emergency sheltering. Assessments will be carried 
out by the authorities as soon as the condition allows.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

For both countries, there has been no request for international 
assistance and the situation is well under control, as a result of good 
early warning and preparedness mechanisms.

OCHA Iran has been in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 
and Ministry of Interior in Tehran, and UNICEF and UNHCR have been in 
touch with local authorities in Sistan-Baluchistan and stand ready to 
assist. UNHCR has distributed some non-food and food items including to 
Afghan refugees in the Zahedan area.

The Ministry of Interior and the Iranian Red Crescent Society are 
currently assisting affected population and there is no need for more 
assistance. The National Disaster Taskforce is distributing bread and 
water among affected population. Those residing in the coastal areas 
have left their houses and gone to higher places. However those living 
in big cities are returning. All executive branches of the government 
are on call and stand ready to assist the population. UN agencies on the 
ground continue to monitor the situation closely and will remain on 
stand-by to respond until the week end.

Contact Details:

In case of emergency only:Tel. + 41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officer
  NYC - Ms. Heidi KuttabTel: + 1-917-367-3365

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel. + 41-22-917 2653

Press contact:
  NYC - Ms. Ms. Stephanie Bunker Tel: + 1-917-367-5126


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