Cyclone Phet down to one

The latest storm path forecast shows Phet downgrading to a Category-1 tropical storm before it hits Pakistan.

KARACHI: The latest storm path forecast on tropicalstormrisk.com shows Phet downgrading to a Category-1 tropical storm before it hits the Pakistan coastline.

Authorities have already evacuated nearly 1,000 people and were on standby for more. In a worst-case scenario up to 50,000 people could be affected on Pakistan's coast, said Commander Salman Ali, a spokesman for Pakistan Navy in Karachi.

Although the storm has weakened significantly, it manged to kill two people in Oman on Friday. Oman also halted its oil and gas production as Phet hit the country's coast, but no facilities were damaged, DPO and Oman LNG spokesmen said. Phet hit Sur, where Oman's three LNG production facilities, known as trains, were located, but no damage was reported.

Pakistan Army has taken all remedial measures along the coastal belt stretching from Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other areas expected to be affected.

The troops in Karachi, Malir and Badin areas have been directed to take the required steps in coordination with NDMA, PDSMA and other related agencies and departments.

According to ISPR, all necessary equipment has been staged and deployed forward to cater for any contingency in land and the coastal area and special attention has been accorded to lessons learnt during Army's deployment on such operations earlier.