landslide leaves at least 27 dead and many missing

The death toll from a gigantic landslide in the state of Maharashtra, in central western India, rose to 27 on Sunday July 23. At least 50 people are also still missing, according to the authorities. On Thursday, monsoon rains triggered a landslide in a village in Raigad district, a hilly and forested area about 100 kilometers from Mumbai.

“We have so far counted 27 bodies, and between 50 and 60 people are still missing, but there are many problems with the rescue work at the site”, local official Yogesh Mhase told AFP. A previous report reported at least sixteen dead.

The impact of climate change

Yogesh Mhase said the isolated hamlet affected by the tragedy was about five kilometers from the nearest road. “No heavy equipment can reach this site, we only have small machines and most of the work has to be done manuallyhe explained. The heavy rains that have not stopped in the region also make the operation much more difficult.” He says he is not optimistic about the likelihood of still finding survivors on the fourth day of the ongoing rescue operation.

Since the start of the monsoon in India in early June, floods and landslides have killed dozens of people in the country. Experts believe that climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events around the world.