Cyclone Phet dumps heavy rains on Gwadar

QUETTA - The coastal areas of Balochistan received a heavy downpour with strong winds ahead of Cyclone Phet, which hit Oman June 4 and was forecast to make landfall in Pakistan within the next two days.

Torrential rains hit the coastal areas of Gwadar, Jevani and Pasni early June 4 and continued until the afternoon, Geo News reported. The tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea, downgraded June 3 to category 2 and moving at 13km per hour, was predicted by the meteorological service to turn north and hit the coast in Sindh.

The government set up an emergency cell in Gwadar with the navy and coast guard on alert to help storm victims, news media reported.

The government already has prohibited local fishermen from going into the sea and evacuated 7,000 residents from the marine areas of Thattha district.