Cyclone Luban devastates Oman and Yemen – And this CAMEL is trying to swim out of the desert flooding

On Oct. 14, Tropical Cyclone Luban made landfall in Yemen near the border with Oman, bringing a year’s worth of rainfall to Oman and Yemen. The storm made landfall between Mukalla and Al Ghaidahnear, causing flash flooding, disrupting power across wide areas, and destroying bridges, roads and other infrastructures. The Salalah Airport reported 11mm rainfall while other areas reported much more. Sadah received 70.8 mm of rain and Dalkhout received 89.0 mm. That’s about one year of rain! And even camels had to learn swimming:

Flash flooding in #Yemen due to Tropical Cyclone Luban (yes, that’s a camel caught in the flash floods). https://t.co/wJgSMkqUuE

— AI6YR (@ai6yrham) 15 octobre 2018

On Oct. 15, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northern Indian Ocean and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided a visible image the remnant clouds associated with former Tropical Cyclone Luban. Luban’s clouds lingered along the border or Yemen and Oman and into the Northern Indian Ocean.

At least three people have been killed and 33 injured and affected 2,000 families by flash flooding in war-ravaged Yemen (Mahra) and neighboring Oman (Dhofar) caused by Tropical Storm Luban’s strong winds and heavy rain.

The cyclone had caused extensive damage to houses, roads, bridges and powerlines to coastal districts in Al Mahra province. Mahra Governor Rajeh Bakrit said on Monday the province had been devastated by the storm and adding: “The situation is catastrophic in the province and beyond the capabilities of the local authorities.”

A Yemeni governor earlier called for help to evacuate some 50 families stuck amid flooding, strong storms, and heavy rain in the area, describing the situation as “disastrous” and saying the families need an airlift rescue. The tropical cyclone Luban formed in the Arabian Sea off Oman last week.

Mahra province in the far east of Yemen and the neighboring Dhofar region of Oman are the only parts of the Arabian Peninsula that have a monsoon climate governed by the tropical weather systems of the Indian Ocean. Mountains rising to 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) separate a fertile coastal strip from the infamous Empty Quarter in the vast desert interior.

In May, Cyclone Mekunu smashed into southern Oman and the Yemeni island of Socotra, killing at least 11 people. Residents of Mahra and Socotra have long complained of being left to fend for themselves as Hadi’s beleaguered government focuses on wars against Houthi rebels, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and much of the north since 2014, and against militants, who have a major presence in neighboring Hadramawt province.

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Saudi Gazette – Tropical storm kills three in Oman, Yemen