India: Over 400 people killed after floods in Kerala
(Baonghean.vn) - On August 20th, floodwaters in Kerala began to recede. Many new victims of the most devastating floods in a century in southern India have been discovered, raising the total death toll to over 400.
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| Rainfall and water levels have decreased in many areas. Photo: AFP |
After a week of continuous heavy rain, rainfall and water levels have receded in many areas. Military helicopters and boats continue searching for survivors and dropping drinking water and food into disaster-stricken areas.
The devastating floods have forced 725,000 people to flee their homes and seek refuge in 5,645 refugee camps in Kerala.
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| In Kerala, 725,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. Photo: AFP |
Although the floodwaters have subsided, problems such as contaminated drinking water sources and poor sanitation are causing authorities to fear a potential outbreak of disease. To prevent this, health workers will be deployed to villages to assess the situation.
In areas hardest hit by the floods, such as Thrissur and Chengannur, rescue teams continue their search for victims trapped by rapidly rising water levels.
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An Indian citizen is rescued by the army after floodwaters rose too quickly. Photo: AFP |
Not only the military participated in the rescue efforts, but many fishermen in Kerala also joined in searching for people trapped in their homes as floodwaters rose rapidly. Using their own boats to rescue victims, they navigated the inland canal network.
Following these actions, the Kerala authorities thanked the fishermen and announced that each boat would receive a subsidy of 3,000 rupees for each day of work.
Reportedly, the floods in Kerala are estimated to have caused total damage of up to $3 billion. However, given the current scale of destruction, this figure is expected to increase.
