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| Twelve killed by cyclone in Oman | Twelve killed by cyclone in Oman |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Twelve people were killed when Cyclone Gonu struck the Gulf country of Oman, an emergency official says. | Twelve people were killed when Cyclone Gonu struck the Gulf country of Oman, an emergency official says. |
| The storm was the strongest to hit the Gulf for decades, damaging buildings and trees in Oman's capital, Muscat, and leaving many roads flooded. | The storm was the strongest to hit the Gulf for decades, damaging buildings and trees in Oman's capital, Muscat, and leaving many roads flooded. |
| High winds and heavy rain were also reported, and electricity and water supplies were interrupted. | High winds and heavy rain were also reported, and electricity and water supplies were interrupted. |
| The cyclone has carried on north-west, gradually weakening as it approaches the Iranian coast. | The cyclone has carried on north-west, gradually weakening as it approaches the Iranian coast. |
| Residents along the coast of southern Iran have moved to higher ground and sought shelter in schools and mosques. | |
| The Iranian town of Jask has reported high winds, heavy rain and overflowing rivers. | |
| Ports closed | |
| Abdullah al-Harthi, a spokesman for the Royal Oman Police, told local TV at least 12 people had died in the cyclone. | |
| Your pictures: Oman deluge | |
| He did not give any more details. | |
| Police had warned people in Muscat to stay indoors during the storm and the streets were largely deserted. | |
| Some 20,000 people were evacuated in the oil-rich sultanate. | |
| Omani ports were closed and flights were suspended at Muscat airport. | |
| However, shipping continued in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries up to 40% of world oil supplies. | |
| Cyclone Gonu diminished in force in the 24 hours before it struck Oman. | |
| It had peaked two days earlier, with a maximum Category Five designation over the Arabian Sea. | |
| A cyclone is the meteorological name for hurricanes in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. |