The heavy monsoon rains that have hit North Korea in recent days may have caused up to 1,500 deaths, South Korea's Unification Ministry said today.
North Korea has not provided official information on the number of deaths due to the heavy monsoon rains that have hit the country.
The South Korean ministry, quoted by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, said that North Korea may have suffered "considerable" casualties, although the material damage caused by the latest rains appears to be lower compared to the years 2010, 2016 and 2020, detailed the South Korean agency Yonhap.
The same source cited satellite images showing the extent of the flooding, especially on the island of Wihwa, as well as in stretches of the Amnok River and neighbouring areas.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed the Minister of Public Security and the heads of several provincial committees, holding them responsible for the serious damage caused by the heavy rains.
Kim also visited flooded areas in the north-west of the country on Sunday, where he "personally supervised the rescue and evacuation operations" of the population.
The "record levels" of rainfall on Saturday left around 5,000 residents of Sinuiju and Uiju isolated and the North Korean army sent helicopters and boats to rescue them.
North Korea is especially vulnerable to flooding during the summer rains due to poor irrigation in rural areas and deforestation.
Kim also rebuked the local authorities for failing to prevent the damage caused by the rains, despite their insistence on taking "comprehensive measures" to avoid such disasters, and designated certain areas along the Amnok in the northern provinces of North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang as special flood-affected areas.
