The powerful storm which has hit the south-eastern coast of Oman is bringing both strong winds and waves of up to twelve metres high. It was widely predicted and the Omani government had taken the precaution of evacuating low-lying areas. On the mainland, this south-eastern facing shore is sparsely populated. Further north, in the coastal capital of Muscat, people have been advised to stay indoors and to switch off their power. Schools have been designated as emergency shelters and the main Seeb international airport, west of Muscat, is closed.
Forecasts of the storm saw concern and a price rise in oil markets earlier in the week but these fell back on Tuesday. Oman's oil output is not as high as some of its neighbours and analysts say there would be more market volatility if the serious effects of the storm were expected in Iran. By the time the storm gets to south-eastern Iran, as predicted, it's forecast to be a lower level storm with heavy rains and strong winds.
There's been some suggestion the cyclone could disrupt oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between the tip of the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. This storm is being described as the strongest to hit the Arabian Peninsula since records began in 1945.
New Words (Từ mới)
It was widely predicted
Nhiều người dự đoán là, cho là điều gì đó (mà ở đây là cơn bão lốc) sẽ xảy ra
taken the precaution
có những biện pháp phòng tránh
evacuating low-lying areas
di tản người dân ra khỏi những khu vực đất thấp
sparsely populated
vắng vẻ, thưa dân cư
designated as emergency shelters
được chọn ra làm nơi tạm trú khẩn cấp trong thời gian khó khăn hay khủng hoảng
saw concern
gây lo ngại, khiến mọi người lo ngại
these fell back
ở đây có nghĩa là giá dầu lửa tụt xuống trở lại bằng giá trước khi xảy ra bão lốc
market volatility
tình trạng lên xuống bất thường về giá cả trên thị trường
There's been some suggestion the cyclone
Có một số gợi ý rằng cơn bão lốc, Có những người cho rằng cơn bão lốc
disrupt oil tanker traffic
cản trở, làm gián đoạn dòng vận chuyển của các tàu chở dầu