By Xinhua
Pyongyang : Hundreds of people are missing and feared dead after thousands of houses were destroyed by torrential rains in North Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday.
Over 63,000 homes were inundated and more than 540 bridges and at least 74 railway lines have been damaged in the rains since last week, the agency said. The rains have hit four provinces Kangwon, South Phyongan, North Hwanghae and Hamgyong particularly hard.
The capital Pyongyang was also hit and the water supply system has been affected.
In the countryside, the heavy downpour has submerged tens of thousands of hectares of farmland, destroying at least 800 public buildings, over 540 bridges, 70 sections of railroad and at least 1,100 vehicles, pumps and electric motors.
Meanwhile, South Korea Tuesday said it was considering assistance to help the North cope with flood damage.
“Considering the substantial amount of losses, we are currently reviewing with other government agencies whether we should provide aid,” said Seo Sung-woo, deputy unification minister.
“Human and material losses from this year’s flooding seemed more serious than last year,” Seo said.