Sudden heavy rain in Oman kills at least 17 people including children

DUBAI: Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in Oman on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, killing at least 17 people as rescuers searched for survivors, authorities said Monday (Apr 15).

In one incident, a group of school children and a driver died when their vehicle was overtaken, authorities said.

Civil defence officials gave the death toll for the rain, which saw Oman's North Al Sharqiyah province hardest hit.

The Royal Oman Police and the Omani military deployed to the province to transport citizens out of flooded areas, the state-run Oman News Agency reported.

Heavy rainfall often causes flash flooding in the sultanate, drawing the curious from their homes to nearby dry riverbeds, known in Arabic as “wadi.” In flooding, they can quickly fill and wash away people and vehicles.

In Dubai in neighbouring United Arab Emirates, authorities warned people to expect heavy rain Monday night and into Tuesday morning. The Emirates' National Center of Meteorology warned of thunder, lightning, rain and possibly hail, with winds reaching up to 70 kph.

Government schools in the UAE announced they would hold classes remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday.