Maldivians in Kerala have been urged to take caution following a flood alert by Indian authorities.

Maldives embassy in Trivandrum issued the caution via Twitter on Friday, after the authorities issued red alerts in various districts following heavy rain spells of rain, gusty winds and landslides across the state.

The embassy also highlighted that Cochin Airport has been closed until Sunday, and to call its hotline for any assistance.

It has been reported that heavy downpour resulting into flooding and landslides has claimed over 40 lives in Kerala, and thousands of people have been moved to relief camps across the state.

District officials have been ordered to evacuate people from danger zones.

In addition to Cochin Airport and the state’s train services, schools and colleges in many parts of western and southern India have been shutdown since Monday and are unlikely to open this coming week.

The weather department forecasts heavy rainfall in Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka in the next two days.

Seasonal monsoon rains, from June to September, cause deaths and mass displacement across India every year; over 500 deaths were reported in 2018.