Civil Defence personnel had to be called in late on Monday night to try and restore order on Shaikh Isa Causeway in Bahrain after gale-force winds uprooted several hoardings on the road divider and scattered them in the path of motorists.

They were assisted by several policemen who literally ran after hoardings that had been blown on to the road, blocking traffic in some cases. No one was injured, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

Civil Aviation Meteorology Directorate sources said gale-force winds, reaching more than 30 knots at times, lashed Bahrain on Monday night.

They said the winds are expected to last well into Tuesday and there are chances of light to moderate rain all over the country. Thundery conditions are expected to prevail over the next 24 hours.

A Coastguard official said a warning had been sent out to fishermen not to venture out into the sea 'unless absolutely necessary.'

'Severe winds, with speeds reaching up to 50 knots, could lash the country so it is not advisable to venture out,' said a source. - TradeArabia News Service