Heavy rains hit Oman's east coast on Thursday as cyclone Phet approached the sultanate pushing up from the Arabian Sea and authorities raised the alert level to orange.

The cyclone, rated at a factor of 3.5 on a scale of five, was moving northwestwardly at a speed of eight kilometres (five miles) an hour. Winds were blowing at a 180 kilometres (112 miles) an hour.

Hotels along the east coast of the sultanate have been evacuated, the ministry of tourism said, and the residents of Masirah island were airlifted to safer areas.

The eye of Phet was still around 150 kilometres (93 miles) away from Masirah.

The capital Muscat further north could be affected by Saturday, authorities said.

But Muscat airport was still open with no intention to suspend flights, Transport Minister Salem al-Nuaimi said.

Phet was expected to veer towards the Indian and Pakistani coasts, sparing Oman a devastating impact similar to that of cyclone Gonu. It tore through Oman in 2007, killing at least 49 people and causing damage worth 3.9 billion dollars.