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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Floods kill at least 28 in southern India, displace thousands
2019-08-10
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] At least 28 people have died in the southern Indian state of Kerala after torrential monsoon rains caused landslides and flooding that cut off some areas, authorities said on Friday.

More than 64,000 people were evacuated and Cochin International Airport, the busiest airport in a state popular with tourists, was closed.

The airport, which is located along the banks of the Periyar river, will be shut until at least 1500 IST (0930 GMT) on Sunday, although the Indian Navy has opened an airfield at a naval base for use by commercial flights, officials said.

Seasonal monsoon rains from June to September cause deaths and mass displacement across South Asia every year but they also deliver more than 70% of India's rainfall and are crucial for farmers.

Kerala was hit by devastating floods last August that killed more than 200 people and affected more than 5 million. Those floods, dubbed the worst to hit the state in nearly a century, caused billions of dollars of damage to fields, homes and other infrastructure.

In the latest flooding, several dozen people were feared to have been trapped after landslides in Wayanad and Malappuram districts. Rescuers have recovered seven bodies and the state government is planning to airlift rescue equipment to the area, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Bad weather was hampering rescue operations and rescuers faced the threat of further landslides, Vijayan said.

"Casualties could go up as many people are still trapped under debris," said an official with Kerala government, who did not want to be named.

Kerala received 155 mm (6.1 inches) of rain on Friday, ten times more than average, weather department data showed.

Posted by:Fred

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