Gulf countries are dangerously unprepared for natural disasters and risk catastrophic destruction on land and at sea, according to a regional crisis centre.

It would cost billions of dollars to replace ageing infrastructure that would be destroyed in the event of such a catastrophe, says the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (Memac).

Billions should be spent now to strengthen structures on land - including highways - and at sea, such as oil rigs, against the increasing danger climate change is bringing, says Memac's Bahrain-based director Captain Abdul Munem Al Janahi.

He was at the heart of dramatic efforts to brace Oman for the devastating cyclone Gonu, which struck in June.

Capt Janahi worked through the night for three days in succession at Memac's Bahraini headquarters to co-ordinate with Omani counterparts at the height of the crisis.

The ferocious storm caused havoc when it eventually made landfall, and Capt Janahi warned that none of the eight Gulf countries under Memac's responsibility - the GCC nations and Iraq and Iran - are prepared for a natural disaster of similar magnitude.