North Korea: Thousands evacuated as heavy rain destroys houses

North Korea: Heavy rains lashed North Korea, flooding 1,170 houses and forcing 5,000 residents to evacuate to safety. Downpour in South Hamgyong Province inundated hundreds of hectares of farmlands and destroyed many bridges. There have been no casualities till now reported by the local news channels.

It is said, that the North’s eastern coastal areas will continue to receive heavy rains in the next few days. Due to the poor drainage system, deforestation, and poor infrastructure in the country, summer rains often cause serious damage to its agriculture. Weather conditions might concern North Korea’s food security, though monitoring groups haven’t detected any signs of mass starvation.

Due to Covid-19 and last year’s massive typhoon, already the country had faced a worse crisis, and Leader Kim Jong Un said in June that his country’s food situation was becoming “tense.”