India: More than 400 people died after floods in Kerala
(Baonghean.vn) - On August 20, floodwaters in Kerala began to recede. Many new victims of the most devastating floods in a century in southern India were discovered, bringing the total number of deaths to more than 400.
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| Rainfall and water levels in many areas have decreased. Photo: AFP |
After a week of continuous heavy rain, rainfall and water levels have subsided in many places. Military helicopters and boats continue to search for survivors and drop water and food into the disaster areas.
The devastating floods have forced 725,000 people to leave their homes and take shelter in 5,645 refugee camps in Kerala.
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| In Kerala, 725,000 people had to leave their homes. Photo: AFP |
The rains have eased but problems such as water pollution and poor sanitation have authorities fearing a possible outbreak of disease. To prevent this, health workers will be deployed in villages to monitor the situation.
In the worst-affected areas of Thrissur and Chengannur, rescuers continue to search for victims trapped by rapidly rising water levels.
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An Indian man is rescued by the army after floodwaters rose too quickly. Photo: AFP |
Not only the army participated in the rescue, many fishermen of Kerala also joined in the search for people trapped in their homes as the floodwaters rose rapidly. Through the network of inland canals, fishermen used their own boats to rescue the victims.
In response to these actions, the Kerala government thanked the fishermen and announced that each boat would receive a subsidy of 3,000 rupees for every working day.
The Kerala floods are estimated to have caused a total loss of up to $3 billion. However, with the current scale of destruction, this figure is expected to rise.
