Cyclone Phet killed 12 people in Oman before it barrelled on towards Pakistan, Oman's civil defence force said.

The victims included a member of the civil defence force and five other people who were swept away by flood waters caused by rainfall from the cyclone, said a statement carried by the official ONA news agency.

Authorities said Phet had weakened in intensity yesterday before heading at wind speeds of up to 120km/h towards Pakistan, where about 60,000 people have been evacuated from the south coast to safer areas.

The Omani authorities had taken several precautionary measures prior to Phet's arrival, evacuating hotels along the east coast and airlifting the residents of Masirah island to safer areas.

In 2007, cyclone Gonu tore through Oman, killing at least 49 people and causing damage worth $US3.9 billion.

Source: Agence France-Presse