North Korea flooding is the worst in history

Posted on : 2007-08-27 10:26 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Over 600 are dead or missing, 400,000 are homeless and 1 million tons of food will be lost

New reports from North Korea show that the country has suffered the most serious flood disaster in its history. As of August 26, more than 600 people are either dead or missing and over 400,000 residents are homeless. Damage to farmland was also severe, causing a loss of approximately 1 million tons of this year’s harvest.

In a report made based on data collected by the North Korean authorities and international organizations, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that due to heavy rains on August 7-18, at least 454 people have died, another 156 persons are missing and 4,351 persons have been injured.

North Korea’s statistics office announced through its official Korean Central News Agency that about 600 were dead or missing and thousands of people had been injured due to the latest flood disaster. According to an earlier announcement, 221 persons died and about 80 were missing.

Damage to houses was also extensive. According to the OCHA data: “Six provinces or cities and 92 counties were damaged by the recent heavy rains. Over 436,000 North Koreans suffered losses from the flood and 169,561 people have lost their homes.” More than 40,000 houses were completely destroyed and over 67,000 were partially destroyed. Another 133,700 houses were submerged.

In addition, 223,381 hectares of farmlands were flooded. Up to 20 percent of rice paddies and 15 percent of corn fields were either lost or submerged. The OCHA estimates that North Korea will lose one million tons out of its anticipated harvest. According to previous estimates by the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the North’s loss was to have reached 200,000-300,000 tons.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said on August 26 that during a huge flood in 1995 and a flood disaster in 2006, North Korean casualties amounted to 69 and approximately 150, respectively. About 240,000 houses were washed away this year, compared to 96,000 houses in 1995 and 36,000 in 2006. Damage to farmlands was less than 360,000 hectares in 1995, but about 10 times more than the 27,000 hectares damaged last year.