Times of Oman - September 1, 2015

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TUESDAY, September 1, 2015 / 17 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH

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SAUDI ARABIA

His Majesty sends greetings >A6 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Cleanliness, pest control drive held

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A cleanliness drive was implemented by Muscat Municipality, including pest-control activities, to combat seasonal diseases. >A2

OMAN

Exhibition on fire, safety and security

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Focussing on safety, OFSEC 2015, exhibition on fire, safety and security will be held from September 14 to 16, 2015. >A3

REGION

IS rebels close in on Damascus

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The IS group battled Syrian rebel forces in a Damascus neighbourhood, bringing rebels closer than ever to the centre of the capital. >A7

These are the highest temperatures recorded in Muscat in August 2014 and 2015 August 1

August 31

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Residential buildings top fire cases this year TARIQ AL HAREMI

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The temperatures were recorded at a weather station in Seeb Source: wunderground.com

Graphics

Call to extend mid-day break for workers

MUSCAT: Maximum incidents of fire this year have been reported from residential buildings in the Sultanate as compared to 2014, say officials from the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA). “There has been 188 cases more in various parts of the Sultanate this year compared to last year, when 1,763 cases were reported,” said Lieutenant Saud Rashid Al Saadi, Officer in Industrial Protection Department, PACDA. He was speaking at a press

workers treated by medics, but with the mid-day break over, it’s leading to concerns

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Hundreds of workers have wilted under the summer sun as Oman records a spike in the number of heat-related hospital visits, prompting urgent calls for the mid-day break to be extended. Medics report an increase of around 25 per cent year-onyear in cases, and according to weather experts the hot weather may linger into the middle of this month at least. The mid-day break began on June 1 and ended on Sunday.

During this period of high temperatures, particularly from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, it was prohibited to ask people to work in outdoor spaces. “Compared to last year, we have witnessed an increase of 25 per cent in the number of workers approaching us with heatrelated ailments during the last three months. The reason might be that this summer is hotter than the previous year,” said Dr Basheer, a senior internist at Badr Al Samaa Hospital in Ruwi. “Roughly, around 700 patients have consulted our hospital in the last three months with heat-

related ailments,” added Basheer. A senior medic from another hospital in Muscat also said that they have witnessed an increase in the numbers. “Our hospital this year has witnessed 15 to 20 per cent rise in the number of workers approaching us for treatment from heat exposure,” said Rajagopal Naganathan, a senior medic at Atlas hospital. The temperature in Oman is still hovering around 46° Celsius in many places. On Sunday, the temperature in Sanaini, Ibri, Mukshin, Buraimi and Fahud was around 45° Celsius and forecast for Monday was also around 44° Celsius. On August 26, 2014, while Muscat recorded 32° Celsius, it was 46° Celsius this year. “It is quite difficult for workers to toil in the blazing heat when the temperatures outside are above 40° Celsius,” said Mohammed Al Khaldi, board member of General Federation of Oman Trade Union (GFOTU). >A6

conference to announce the Oman Exhibition on Fire, Safety and Security and Cyber Security Conference, to be held at the Oman Exhibition Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, advisor to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. He revealed that residential buildings had reported 30 per cent fire incidents, followed by transportation and agricultural establishments among others. A PACDA department issues licences for equipment to prevent fire hazards in establishments whether they are industrial, residential or commercial. >A6

WA D I S A M I N I

Fatal hiking trip was unauthorised: Ministry Times News Service

There have been hundreds of cases of sick

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PAC D A

AUGUST 2015 HOTTER THAN AUGUST 2014

HM sends condolences MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), on the death of Princess Nouf bint Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to King Salman, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the deceased’s soul in peace and grant her family patience. -ONA

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MUSCAT: Hikers were on an unauthorised trip to the Wadi Samini locality of Al Buraimi, the Ministry of Tourism has said in a statement to the ONA. A British woman tourist was found dead in the Wadi Samini

incident near Buraimi on Sunday. The woman was part of a group of 12 hikers who had gone on a hiking trip on Saturday. Eight of them were rescued at by the police personnel around 4:45pm on Saturday while three others were found alive later in the evening. >A6

Oman firm, BP sign Sohar project pact

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