Hundreds dead, dozens missing in Nepal floods

Heavy rains drenched the country on Monday and continued throughout the week, triggering deadly landslides and floods. Authorities have reported more than 100 deaths in Nepal, along with more than 90 in the states of Kerala and Uttarakhand. At least 32 were injured and 35 more missing as of late Friday. The prime minister visited the western region and promised aid packages of $1,700 for the families of each victim.

How bad is the damage? The floods have destroyed crops and more than 1,600 homes. Thousands of people have been evacuated to higher ground, but the extreme weather has complicated rescue efforts. Some teams were not able to reach affected areas until 10 hours after floods struck. The weather is expected to improve over the weekend. Floods are common in this region of India and Nepal.

Dig deeper: Read John Dawson’s report in Beginnings about modern weather patterns and climate change projections.