More than 100 dead in India after landslide

Over 120 people died in the landslide in the Wayanad district of the southern Indian state of Kerala, government sources told Indian news website Mint on Tuesday. The landslide began at about 2 a.m. local time, according to the government of Kerala. It swept through largely isolated areas, washed away roads, damaged houses and businesses, and completely smothered a local school, officials said. On Tuesday, rescue efforts got underway, government officials said. However, many people were still trapped underground and others were trapped in the flow of the landslide, Mint reported.

What caused the landslide? The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority early on Tuesday issued a warning for heavy rains in the area. The warning specifically predicted heavy rains in isolated areas including Wayanad. The area did not normally experience heavy landslides like this one, according to the government.

What are officials doing to help? Five government ministers are working together to manage the disaster response in the area, according to the government of Kerala. Police and local military units are also assisting in search and rescue operations, according to the statement. Authorities will use genetic testing to determine the identities of any bodies recovered during their search.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report in The Sift about rescuers pulling more than 40 workers out of a Himalayan tunnel where they were trapped late last year.