Cyclone Shaheen approaches Oman, one dead

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen is bearing down on Oman, prompting authorities to delay flights to and from the capital Muscat, and to urge residents to evacuate coastal areas.

A child who was swept away by water was found dead, the state news agency said on Sunday, and another person was missing.

The eye of the storm was about 60km from Muscat and was carrying top winds of 120km/h or more, a joint statement by the country's hazard, weather and civil aviation agencies said.

The storm's centre was expected to hit land during the late afternoon and evening, bringing very high winds and heavy rainfall, but the outer bands of the system were already being felt.

The national emergency committee said the power supply would be cut in al-Qurm, east of the capital, to avoid accidents. More than 2700 people were put up in emergency shelters.

Most of the oil-exporting country's five million people live in and around Muscat.

Roads in the capital would be open only to vehicles on emergency and humanitarian journeys until the storm dies down, authorities said.