KARACHI: While a deep depression over the Arabian Sea turned into a tropical cyclone, named Luban, officials at the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Monday that it posed no threat to any part of the country’s coastline.

The deep depression in the Arabian Sea started developing last week and on Monday the Met Office said that it intensified into a cyclonic storm.

However, it said that the trend and direction of the emerging cyclone suggested that it was likely to hit coasts of Yemen and Oman.

“It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and move west-north-westwards towards south Oman and Yemen coasts,” said a Met Office statement. “The tropical cyclone warning centre of PMD, Karachi is regularly monitoring the intensity and track of this weather system. No threat is expected from the tropical cyclone, storm surge, strong winds or heavy rainfall to any part of Pakistan coastline.”

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018