Tropical Storm Khanun Kills At Least 7 In North Korea

[News_Editor]

Tropical Storm Khanun kills at least 7 in North Korea < br />

2012-07-21 08:09:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (BNO NEWS) -- Tropical storm Khanun destroyed scores of houses, buildings and transportation infrastructure in southern parts of North Korea this week, killing at least seven people in the reclusive state, state-run media reported on Friday. Another person was killed in South Korea.

Khanun became a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour on Monday as it was centered far east of the Ryukyu Islands. It then moved to the northwest, passing north of the Kadena Air Base on the islands before moving towards South Korea where it made landfall on Thursday. It weakened quickly over North Korea before Khanun's remnants dissipated over China.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that flooding triggered by Khanun caused significant damage and casualties in the southern regions of North Korea. It said at least seven people were killed in Kangwon Province, but few other details about casualties were released.

"Many hectares of farmland were inundated in Kangwon province and some dwelling houses, public buildings, railways, roads, bridges, breakwaters, electric supply and communication networks were destroyed," KCNA said in its report, adding that some areas saw up to 200 millimeters (7.8 inches) of rain. "The water supply system was paralyzed in Wonsan and Munchon cities, suspending the provision of drinking water to citizens."

In South Hwanghae province, several houses were destroyed in Haeju City and Jaeryong County while large areas of cropland were submerged in Unchon County. The report did not say whether there were casualties in South Hwanghae province, or in any other regions of North Korea.

In South Korea, Khanun also caused flooding, power outages, and affected major transportation systems. One fatality was reported in North Gyeongsang province when the wall of a home collapsed, officials said. Scattered showers and thunderstorms further affected some areas of northeastern China on Friday, causing no known casualties. Scattered showers also moved into Khabarovsk Krai in Russia.

In August 2011, at least ten people were killed when Typhoon Muifa destroyed hundreds of houses in the southern region of North Korea. It followed severe flooding triggered by record rainfall in the country just a month earlier, killing at least 30 people in North Korea and 70 people in South Korea.

North Korean state-run media also reported that an unknown number of people were killed in June 2011 when Severe Tropical Storm Meari made landfall in western areas of North Korea. KCNA reported that heavy rain and strong winds destroyed more than 160 blocks of homes, but no official death toll was released.

KCNA's reporting of the natural disasters last year was heavily criticized after 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 have been an attempt to receive more international aid.

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