Oman has been wary recently after powerful waves shook its shores for the past few days. Visitors of the Gulf nation saw nature’s power as members of an expat family were swept away by dangerous waves.
What Happened?
Last Sunday, a holiday turned into a nightmare for many at the Al-Mughsail beach in Oman, where several people decided to ignore safety guidelines and stand on the rocky shores for a photo with the massive waves behind them.
The high tide and waves had other plans as they crashed into the rocks and onto the people closest to the waters, dragging some of those still posing as they retreated. Onlookers could only scream in horror as they watched the people get pulled into the raging sea.
While some stood frozen, only recording the incident on their mobile phones, others were trying to help. Unfortunately, the waters rendered the rocky shores so slippery that people couldn’t get to them in time.
The victims
The dark waters swept away Shashikant Mhamane, his nine-year-old daughter, and his 6-year-old son as citizens reached out to authorities to rescue them, all while the video of their watery abduction went viral on social media.
Disclaimer: The video can be disturbing for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
The bodies of the father and his son were later found on a beach nearby. However, the daughter is still missing, with authorities continuing their efforts to search for her, utilizing every resource at their disposal, including helicopters, drones, boats, and rescue teams.
In the meantime, the Omani government temporarily closed most of its tourist sites and beaches, only to reopen all except for Al-Mughsail beach, where they continue their search.
For now, several security and rescue authorities continue to warn people from swimming in several dangerous areas due to the harsh weather the country is experiencing.
The authorities are giving citizens ample warning to avoid masses of water which can build up quickly due to heavy rains or flooding, in hopes of people staying safe and secure.
“The authority calls on everyone not to swim in valleys, water gatherings, and dangerous places, especially during exceptional weather conditions,” wrote The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) on Twitter.
Aftermath
Even though authorities continue to warn people of the potential dangers in the area, people resume risking their lives, as authorities announced two people drowned in Al-Himli within the governorate of Al-Rustaq.
“The Authority’s Operations Center received a report about the drowning of two citizens in Wadi Al-Himli, in the governorate of Al-Rustaq. Citizens tried to help them, and they were later taken to the hospital, where the authorities followed up on their health condition, however, they had already passed away,” wrote The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) on Twitter.
This situation opened a debate over social media, where people criticized the victims and others in the same area who disregarded weather warnings and were willing to risk their lives for a photo opportunity.
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