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Heavy rainfall and landslides: What's the secret behind this natural disaster?
In the early morning of July 30, 2024, a series of fatal landslides occurred in the Wayanad region of Kerala, India, killing 254 people, injuring 397 people, and missing 118 people, making it the deadliest landslide in the history of the state. One of the most deadly natural disasters. The landslide was caused by heavy and persistent rainfall that caused the slope to collapse, destroying villages below. The disaster revealed the multiple crises facing the region — not just extreme weather, but also environmental damage and poor land-use planning.
Many government agencies, including the armed forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and volunteers, have launched massive rescue operations to search for survivors.
Background
Situated in the Western Ghats, Wayanad has a mountainous and intricate terrain. According to geological evidence, the formation of this area is related to the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The base of the site consists of basalt, which is ideal for soil and water conservation. However, local rainfall patterns put these areas at risk of landslides. According to the Mepadi government's disaster mitigation document in 2020, several villages in the region were marked as high-risk areas prone to landslides and flash floods, especially during the rainy season.
What happened
According to meteorological data, 372.6 mm of rainfall accumulated in Wayanad in the 48 hours before the landslide. Against this background, the local government began to relocate residents living in high-risk areas to relief camps on July 29. However, despite the government issuing a landslide warning, many residents chose to stay in their homes.
Many residents were still asleep when the disaster struck. According to eyewitness accounts, two villages were swallowed up by sudden landslides almost overnight.
At 2:17 am, the first wave of landslides occurred near the Punnappuzha River, followed by the second wave of landslides at 04:10, which immediately triggered a large-scale flood and completely washed away Chulamala village.
Loss and impact
The impact of this disaster was far-reaching, with more than 420 people dead and 397 injured, causing a large number of families to lose their livelihoods. According to official data, all members of 17 families were killed. In addition, the landslide also damaged about 1,555 houses and affected 290 shops, causing economic losses of 2.5 billion Indian rupees (about 32 million U.S. dollars).
In addition to people, the landslide also caused livestock losses, with nearly 150 cattle and 75 goats dead.
Rescue operation
In response to this emergency, the Indian Ministry of Defense and local governments quickly launched a multi-faceted rescue plan. Since July 31, nearly 4,000 aid workers have been dispatched to the disaster area. All parties, including the army, air force and volunteers, quickly invested in the rescue work and set up 93 relief camps.
With the efforts of disaster relief personnel, more than 10,000 residents have been safely placed in disaster relief camps, providing much-needed survival support to those residents who lost their homes.
Post-disaster reflection and future development
After the disaster, the government conducted a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the disaster area. Experts believe that the landslide occurred not only because of extreme rainfall, but also due to long-term environmental damage, incorrect land use due to urbanization, and a lack of effective building codes. Many scholars have begun to call for improving construction standards in areas at risk of landslides and strengthening the protection of forest resources.
In the future, how to pursue economic development while protecting the natural environment will become a topic that local governments and residents need to face together.
