Death Toll In North Korea Floods Reach 549
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - A pro-North Korean newspaper based in Japan said on Monday that last month floods in Pyongyang has killed some 549 people and left another 295 missing. The Choson Sinbo newspapers said heavy rains since mid-July has caused massive flooding in North Korea and destroyed over 4,500 houses and damaged 3,000 more. The paper's Web site says, "Recovery efforts are proceeding at rapid speed as relief supplies are being sent to the afflicted areas." It adds the flood water washed away an estimated 48,500 acres of farmland which is expected to add further strain on the impoverished communist country's ability to provide food for its 23 million inhabitants. A Seoul-based aids group last week estimated that over 10,000 people have been affected by the recent heavy rains in Pyongyang. The South Korean Red Cross offered assistance to its North Korean counterpart but the offer was denied. However, a recent pronouncement made by Pyongyang indicates it would now accept aid from Seoul, an indication of the extent of the damage. The new figure represents a sharp rise from previously released data that had 154 dead and 127 missing from the floods. North Korea's official media previously reported "hundreds" of deaths as a result of the flooding but gave no details.
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