'Our prayers with victims of tragic event..' US President Joe Biden expresses grief over Wayanad landslides
US President Joe Biden expressed his deepest condolences to the victims of the Kerala landslides and commended the rescue teams and emergency responders for their bravery and dedication.
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FollowUS President Joe Biden offered his 'deepest condolences' on Thursday (Aug 1) to the victims of the devastating landslides in Kerala, while also praising the courage and dedication of the rescue teams and emergency responders who are working tirelessly to navigate the challenging relief operations. A series of devastating landslides struck the regions of Meppadi, Mundakkai Town, and Chooralmala of Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday, July 30.
"Jill and I extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by the deadly landslides in the state of Kerala in India," the US President said in a statement.
"Our prayers are with the victims of this tragic event, and we mourn with the families who have lost loved ones. We commend the bravery of the Indian service members and first responders supporting the complex recovery effort. We will continue to hold the people of India in our thoughts during this difficult time," he added.
At least 316 people lost their lives and over 200 others were injured in the massive landslides that hit Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday (July 30). The number of casualties is likely to rise in the coming hours even as the rescue operations continue on Day 4 today. The first incident occurred around 1 am in Mundakkai Town, triggered by intense rainfall. As rescue operations were underway, a second landslide hit the area near Chooralmala School at around 4 am, causing widespread destruction.
According to the latest updates, 240 individuals, including 29 minors, are still missing, while 1,700 people have been accommodated in relief camps. Search operations yesterday yielded 40 fatalities, and today's efforts will be scaled up across six targeted areas. The intensified search aims to locate those still unaccounted for, with rescue teams working tirelessly to cover the designated zones.
Today's search operation is being carried out in a more planned manner. The first zone is the combined area of Attamala and Aaranmala. Mundakkai is the second zone, Punjirimattam is the third zone, Vellarimala Village Road is the fourth zone, and GVHSS Vellarimala is the fifth zone. The banks of the river are the sixth zone.
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