Hopes of finding survivors dwindle in India’s Kerala after landslides kill 167

Rescue efforts in Kerala’s Wayanad district continue as hopes of finding survivors fade following devastating monsoon landslides that killed at least 230 people, Reuters reported yesterday.

Heavy rains, which intensified over the past week, triggered the landslides, burying homes and sweeping away residents as they slept. Nearly 1,600 individuals have been rescued, while authorities have set up camps for over 8,000 displaced residents.

The Indian Navy has deployed disaster relief teams, but adverse weather conditions hinder rescue operations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of more heavy rain ahead, urging residents to remain vigilant. The recent rainfall, totaling 572 millimeters over 48 hours, has been attributed to climate change, with experts noting the Arabian Sea’s warming is contributing to extreme weather patterns. This disaster marks the worst in Kerala since the catastrophic floods of 2018.