GEO 436 KARACHI: The intensity of Cyclone Phet weakened as it smashed along coastal Oman Friday, lashing the region with up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain. Phet, once a powerful Category 4 storm, has been downgraded to Category 1 with winds of about 140 km/hr (86 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Yet Phet brought massive flooding to Muscat and whipped the capital with winds gusting above 200 km/hr (125 mph) at the height of the storm. The storm is forecast to reenter the Arabian Sea late Friday or early Saturday before making a projected landfall near Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday. Director General met office Dr. Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry told Geo news' correspondent Sarfaraz Raja the Cyclone Phet has been reduced to category 2 storm however, its intensity has not been downgraded much while the most coastal areas of Pakistan will continue facing its might for no less than three days. It is expected that the cyclone will cause 20-25 ft high tides and heavy rains across Sindh from Sunday to Tuesday. It has been raining intermittently in the coastal areas of Balochistan including Gwadar since Friday morning. The rains are expected to continue till Monday. Meanwhile, in Badin strong and dusty winds have begun blowing, triggering fear among the locals. Cyclone Phet has killed two persons including a Bangladeshi woman in Oman.
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