Death toll in Oman, Yemen from Cyclone Mekunu rises to 30

Red Cross, Red Crescent say 20 of those fatalities happened on the Yemeni island of Socotra.

People search for belongings among the wreckage of a boat destroyed by Cyclone Mekunu in Socotra Island, Yemen, in this May 25, 2018. The cyclone that struck Yemen and Oman left behind a trail of devastation and claimed 30 lives, 20 of them in Socotra itself.

Authorities say Cyclone Mekunu killed at least 30 people when it barreled across Oman and Yemen last month.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that the majority of the fatalities happened on the Yemeni island of Socotra, where 20 were killed.

The federation said in a statement Thursday another four were killed in Yemen’s al-Mahrah governorate, which borders Oman.

In Oman, authorities had previously said at least six people were killed by the storm.

Widespread damage

Cyclone Mekunu made landfall on the Arabian Peninsula early May 26, causing flash floods and other damage. It earlier hit Socotra in the Arabian Sea.

The cyclone packed maximum sustained winds of 170-180 kilometres (105-111 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 200 kph (124 mph).