'Thousands' of buildings destroyed as heavy rainfall, flooding hits North Korea

2011-07-29 09:18:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG (BNO NEWS) -- 'Thousands' of buildings have been destroyed in various parts of North Korea after it was hit by heavy rainfall and flooding this week, state-run media reported on Friday. Details about casualties are unknown.

The Korean Peninsula was hit by record rainfall this week, causing flooding and landslides in both North and South Korea. At least 67 people are believed to have been killed in South Korea alone, and officials fear the death toll could still rise.

In North Korea, where news gathering by foreign journalists is nearly impossible, state-run media reported that large areas of the country were 'seriously affected' by the weather. It is the third time in a month that severe weather in North Korea caused extensive damage.

According to the Hydro-meteorological Service in North Korea, 564 millimeters (22.2 inches) of rain was recorded in the county of Chongdan in South Hwanghae province alone between midnight Tuesday and noon Thursday. Similar amounts of rain hit other parts of the country.

Video aired on state-run television showed scenes of landslides, collapsed homes and flooded fields. It was not possible to confirm when the footage was recorded or if it had been digitally altered. One elderly woman was shown as she pointed out that water rose up to her chest during the worst of the flooding.

"The downpours severely damaged economic sectors in the afflicted areas," a news report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "Thousands of dwelling houses and hundreds of industrial establishments, schools and public buildings were destroyed."

The KCNA report added that an initial survey showed more than 36,000 hectares (89,000 acre) of cropland were flooded in South Hwanghae province alone, which appeared to be most heavily affected.

The reports from state-run media made no mention of casualties and independent confirmation of the scale of the destruction was not immediately available due to reporting restrictions by the North Korean government.

North Korea was also hit by heavy rains and resulting landslides between July 11 and July 15, reportedly destroying bridges, railways, and scores of homes and other buildings. Dozens of coal mines were also said to have been flooded, but KCNA again made no mention of casualties.

But KCNA's reporting was also criticized during the flooding earlier this month when it distributed a photo which appeared to have been digitally altered to make the disaster look worse than it may have been. North Korean state-run media normally keeps quiet or downplays problems in the country, and experts believe the North's move might be in an effort to receive more international aid.

Also earlier this month, KCNA reported that severe damage was reported when Severe Tropical Storm Meari made landfall in western areas of North Korea in late June. It said heavy rain and strong winds destroyed more than 160 blocks of homes, killing an unknown number of people.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-29

Guess they will be holding out their hand for aid again soon, most of which will go to the military, amid stern telling offs about how bad the West and capitalism is.