Iran's Interior Ministry on Wednesday declared an emergency situation in two provinces in southern and south-western Iran because of Cyclone Gonu, state media reported, according to dpa. State news agency IRNA reported that residents of the ports Jask and Chabahar in the provinces Hormuzgan and Sistan-Beluchistan respectively were ordered to leave and seek temporary shelter in safer areas, at least until Thursday afternoon. Cyclone Gonu has already hit the neighbouring gulf sheikhdom of Oman. While the situation in the Persian Gulf province of Hormuzgan was reportedly still calm, the storm had reached Sistan-Beluchistan with a speed of up to 110 kilometre per hour, state television quoted local officials as saying. Hundreds of residents in the coastal areas near the towns Jask and Chabahar had already left their houses and sought shelter in several public buildings, such as the university and oceanic institute in Chabahar. The interior ministry has set up special centres for medical services and for the time being everything is reportedly organised with no signs of chaos or panic among the people. Damage so far was limited to toppled trees and temporary difficulties with the electricity supply in two towns. The airport of Chabahar, which is one of the country's free trade zones, has, however, been closed for at least three days. Iran's meteorological institute also called on local people to avoid sea transport as wave heights in the Persian Gulf could reach more than five metre.
