Typhoon Bolaven Kills 48, Leaves Scores Missing In North Korea

Typhoon Bolaven kills 48, leaves scores missing in North Korea < br />

2012-09-05 05:09:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll as a result of Typhoon Bolaven, one of the most powerful storms to strike the Korean Peninsula in recent years, has risen to at least 48, state-run media reported on Monday. The storm also left tens of thousands of people homeless.

Bolaven made landfall in North Korea on late Tuesday with torrential rains and maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers (55.9 miles) per hour and gusts up to 129.6 kilometers (80 miles) per hour, according to Choe Tong Hwan, the director of the North Korean Hydro-meteorological Management Office in North Hwanghae province.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday said the death toll had risen to at least 48 while up to 50 others are missing, a significant increase from the three fatalities earlier reported. It said the typhoon, which weakened quickly after making landfall, also destroyed or flooded more than 6,700 houses. More than 21,180 people have been left homeless by the disaster, KCNA said.

Footage released last week by the official news agency showed scores of uprooted trees, partially damaged buildings, and roads washed away by floods. KCNA said more than 25 square kilometers (9.6 square miles) of road was destroyed in 90 places and floods have washed away more than 50,000 hectares (123,500 acre) of farmland.

The news agency added that more than 16,730 trees fell down, some 880 industrial and public buildings were disabled, and dozens of educational and medical service buildings were destroyed. It gave no other details about the disaster and the details cannot be independently verified as international journalists are permanently banned from the country.

North Korea has been hit hard by floods this year, killing hundreds of people and leaving nearly a quarter of a million people homeless. Tropical storm Khanun hit in July and was followed by torrential rains just days later, killing at least 169 people and leaving more than 400 others missing.

The North estimated some 8,600 houses were destroyed by the severe weather in July while nearly 44,000 houses were flooded, leaving more than 212,200 people homeless and forcing the government to request international assistance. Torrential rains hit the impoverished nation again between August 17 and August 20, killing six people and destroying hundreds of buildings.

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