Floods in North Korea kill at least 30, leave thousands homeless

[News_Editor]

Floods in North Korea kill at least 30, leave thousands homeless

2011-08-06 00:01:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG (BNO NEWS) -- Flooding in various parts of North Korea late last month has left at least 30 people killed and thousands of buildings destroyed, state-run media reported on Friday.

The Korean Peninsula was hit by record rainfall in the last week of July, causing severe flooding and landslides in both North and South Korea. At least 70 people were reported killed in South Korea alone.

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

On Friday, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the flooding in the last week of July killed at least 30 people in the country. It added that more than 6,750 dwelling houses were destroyed, leaving some 15,800 people homeless.

"Over 48,000 hectares of cropland were submerged, buried and washed away in the country, seriously affecting this year's grain output," KCNA said in a news report. "Torrential rains and flood pulled down some 350 production facilities and public buildings and heavily damaged riverbanks, tide embankments and waterways."

KCNA also reported that railroads, bridges and more than 6.9 kilometers (4.2 mile) of road was destroyed, making it difficult to supply relief goods and materials to the affected areas. It said South Hwanghae Province was the worst-hit province.

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

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 July 26 and noon July 28. Similar amounts of rain hit other parts of the country.

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 made no mention of casualties.

KCNA also reported in early July that severe damage was caused 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.

But KCNA's reporting last month was also criticized 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.

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