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At Least 73 Dead As Indian Tourist State Faces Unprecedented Flooding

India's Meteorological Department issued weather warnings for heavy to very heavy rain in Kerala for the coming days.
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Flooding in southern India has killed at least 73 people and displaced more than 85,000. 

And more rain is in the forecast as the tourist state of Kerala deals with the worst flooding it's had in almost a century.

The chief minister of Kerala said the state is facing an unprecedented crisis because of the floods. 

The rain started about a week ago and has forced authorities to release water from 35 extremely full reservoirs. India's Meteorological Department issued weather warnings for heavy to very heavy rain in Kerala for the coming days. 

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he asked the country's defense ministry to "further step up the rescue and relief operations" across Kerala.

One of India's busiest airports, Cochin International Airport, is shut down until Aug. 18 because a runway is flooded.

Reuters reports the last time Kerala saw flooding like this was in 1924.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.