A total of 89 people died and dozens of others are feared to be trapped in the state of Kerala, which is located in India, after heavy rainfall led to huge landslides all over the state. A report from the Daily Caller stated that a series of landslides began in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the southern region after an extensive period of heavy rainfall came down in the hilly area. Already a total of 250 people have been rescued thus far after the disaster struck. Many of them have been transported to either either rescue camps and local hospitals, which have treated 129 people for injuries.
The numbers are expected to climb as the day moves forward.
“The situation continues to remain very grave. The casualties may go up,” Kerala’s top civil servant V Venu told local media. At least 65 people were confirmed dead in the Wayanad district and 16 bodies have been found in the Chaliyar river, which flows into the Malappuram district.
India landslides update: 84 killed, 116 injured, hundreds more still missing – Reuters @MrbamNews pic.twitter.com/6jv7ZI1GU4
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) July 30, 2024
❗Eight Killed, Hundreds Trapped By Massive Landslides In Kerala
Torrential rains led to the disastrous events in Wayanad district, early Tuesday, with rescue efforts hampered by damaged roads and bridges.
Helicopters are being used to ferry emergency crews into the hilly area,… pic.twitter.com/FZTlLoQOrU
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 30, 2024
Footage shared on social media purport show absolute devastation as torrents of red, muddy waters hurtle through infrastructure. More than 200 army personnel have been deployed to help both rescue efforts and to secure the region, the BBC noted. Firefighters and other rescue workers are also contributing to the effort, as videos show people cleaning and searching through debris.
It’s believed most of the victims of the disaster were workers for local properties who were likely asleep in their tents when the landslides hit. Some 350 families live and work in the area, which is home to predominantly tea and cardamom estates.
#Kerala has the highest number of major #landslides in India, with 59.2% of the country's landslides occurring here between 2015 and 2022.
An AI study revealed that 13% of Kerala is extremely prone to landslides, #Wayanad being highly vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/sNCz2BuC6l— Rejimon Kuttappan (@rejitweets) July 30, 2024
Footage that was shared online reveals that Kerala is still experiencing significant rainfall. This level of rainfall is not unheard of as it’s still monsoon season, according to local news publications. Five districts sent out red alerts. Seven others were later placed under orange alerts as of Tuesday.
One of mankind’s greatest fears is being buried alive. This is why we should all take an opportunity to pray for those who might be trapped under the rubble that they would be rescued as quickly as possible. I can’t imagine how scared many of them must be right now.
The southwest monsoon has reportedly intensified due to a low level jet stream, bringing a reported 11 inches of rain to Wayanad within the last 24 hour period (from time of writing).
We’ve been experiencing an increase in natural disasters as of late, haven’t we? Record setting numbers of tornadoes in the Ohio and Indiana area have caused many meteorologists to state that “Tornado Alley” could potentially be shifting. Weather patterns are unpredictable, try as we might to do just that with the science available to us. That’s why it’s critical every family be prepared with an emergency supply of food, water, medications, first aid, and other materials necessary for survival.
It’s not just the collapse of the government we need to worry about. Natural disasters can happen anytime, anyplace. Preparedness could spare the lives of your loved ones, and that makes it worth it in the end.
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