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Cyclone storm 'Mekunu' to move northwards from Southwest Arabian Sea in 24 hours

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 25, 2018, 03:37 PM IST
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File photo. Photograph:(AFP)

A major cyclonic storm termed as 'Mekunu' which hit Westcentral and adjoining Southwest Arabian Sea may now move northwards during the next 24 hours, reports said on Friday. 

It is likely to move north-northwestwards and cross south Oman-southeast Yemen coasts close to Salalah, by May 26.

As per reports, a cyclone Mekunu in the Arabian Sea may make a landfall in the Arabian Peninsula later this week. A north to northwest track in the coming days will bring the risk for life-threatening impacts to Socotra, Oman and Yemen.

A state of emergency was declared in Socotra, an island located between the Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula, after the storm flooded villages, capsized boats and left at least 17 missing on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

As the system is away from Indian coast, no adverse weather is expected along and off the west coast of India and Lakshadweep. 

The MET department had on Thursday said that the cyclone is likely to trigger heavy showers along the western coast of Maharashtra in the next few days. Some isolated places in Konkan will receive rain, but the rest of Maharashtra will have no impact, reports said.

Nineteen people were missing after seven boats capsized and three cars were washed away by floods, said one Yemeni government minister, adding that evacuations to shelters are still underway in the island’s capital. Another official said more than 200 families had been evacuated from their villages.

The storm is worsening and most parts of the island have lost communications, said the governor of the nearby province of Hadhramaut.

The same weather system hit the Horn of Africa on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people in Somaliland.

Yemeni government spokesman Badi called on international humanitarian organisations and the Riyadh-led military coalition participating in the war to provide urgent aid to the island, where Saudi and UAE forces have a presence.

In November 2015, Socotra and south Yemen were hit by cyclone Chapala which injured more than 200 people.

(With inputs from agencies)