Tropical Cyclone Phet roaring toward the coast of Oman was expected to make landfall late on Thursday at the earliest before barrelling toward the oil-exporting Gulf Arab state's LNG facilities, said a top official.

'It will hit the land at eastern region by first entering Masirah (Island) around 2200 (local time) tonight,' Ahmed Al Harthy, a senior Omani meteorological official told Reuters.

'The storm will be felt, though less severe, all the way to Muscat on Friday.'

National carrier Oman Air said it had cancelled two flights so that aircraft could evacuate people from Masirah island, home to several villages and an Omani air force base.

'Hundreds of people have been evacuated, most of them from the Masirah Island,' an Oman civil defence department spokesman said, adding that some of the evacuees had been taken to Muscat.

'There are many more who refused to budge.' – Reuters