What Happened?
Over 300 people have died in severe floods that are affecting the southern Indian state of Kerala. For over a week, Monsoons have passed through the region, causing homes to collapse and stranding thousands. This is India’s worst flooding in nearly a century, according to The Guardian. The floods disrupted air and train services across Kerala, a popular destination for tourism in India.
The Latest
Rescue missions are ongoing, with about 220,000 people being housed in 1,500 relief camps throughout the state, according to Kerala’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. Members of India’s armed forces were deployed to help with the rescue, according to NPR.
On Friday, Aug. 17, rescuers utilized over 400 boats and a dozen helicopters to evacuate thousands of citizens stranded on rooftops in the area, according to Fox News. The Indian government is distributing food to people who have evacuated, and officials have urged people not to ignore evacuation orders, BBC News reported.
The international airport in Kochi suspended flights after water covered the runway, and all schools in Kerala are currently closed, according to Fox News.
What’s next?
Officials predict the showers will continue, and a red alert is currently set in place. The Kochi International Airport is expected to suspend flights until Aug. 26.
Numerous crops and plantations are under water, which may cause disruption to local rubber, tea, coffee and spice industries, BBC News reported. According to NPR, rubber output is likely to fall 13.5 percent from last year.
In Context
Hundreds are killed in India every year during monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. Just this year, over a thousand citizens have lost their lives in seven states since June. At least 324 people have died in Kerala, as well as a total of 190 in Uttar Pradesh, 183 in West Bengal, 139 in Maharashtra, 52 in Gujarat, 45 in Assam and 11 in Nagaland State, Fox News and the Press Trust of India reported.
