The entire Sharqiya has been literally marooned from the rest of the country after roads collapsed and telecommunication services broke down following the Gonu onslaught. "The situation in Sur and other areas in the region is very comfortable. There is enough food and supplies of other essential goods, and services are being restored," Lt. Col. Abdullah Al Harthy said in the first official comment on the state of affairs there after the cyclone.

He added landline phone services were almost re-established and within the next two days mobile lines would be functional. Meanwhile, a ship stacked with essential goods to be distributed among affected people in Sur and nearby areas left here for the eastern city yesterday as roads continued to be impassable. Another ship with food and other essential supplies, generators and medicines was sent to Quriyat.