BTN News: Recent heavy rains in northwest North Korea have caused major problems. Thousands of homes and large areas of farmland are flooded. Many people are now homeless and living in temporary tents. State media reported these events on Wednesday. The heavy rain over the weekend made the Yalu River flood. This river is on the border with China, which made the situation worse in the area.
Earlier reports from North Korea said that over 5,000 people were stuck in the city of Sinuiju and the nearby town of Uiju. They were rescued by air and other ways. But the details about the damage or if there were any deaths were not given at first. North Korea often faces flooding in the summer. This is because they have poor drainage systems, a lot of deforestation, and badly maintained infrastructure.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Wednesday that around 4,100 homes and 3,000 hectares (about 7,410 acres) of farmland are flooded. Many public buildings, roads, and railways in Sinuiju and Uiju are also underwater. In the nearby Jagang province, about 150 people were cut off by another river flooding. They were rescued by military helicopters.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had an emergency meeting in Sinuiju to respond to the crisis. He demanded severe punishment for officials who failed in their disaster prevention duties. He said this neglect led to what he called “the victim that cannot be permitted.” The KCNA report did not say if “the victim” meant one person or many, and it did not confirm any deaths.
After the meeting, politburo members agreed to appoint new secretaries for the Workers’ Party in the flooded areas. They also appointed a new Minister of Public Security. Kim had criticized the emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security for not knowing the exact number of people in the affected areas. This lack of information made the number of people rescued much higher than expected.
Plans were made to build 4,400 new homes, strengthen the dikes in Sinuiju and Uiju, and restore damaged facilities in Jagang province. Kim also ordered the urgent distribution of stored disaster relief materials to those affected. He asked politburo members to visit displaced residents in tents to offer comfort and see their living conditions.
State television showed images of Kim and other officials in inflatable boats inspecting the damage. The footage showed many homes submerged in muddy water, with only rooftops visible above the flood.
This natural disaster shows the ongoing problems in North Korea. Economic hardships and international sanctions make recovery and aid efforts more difficult. The flooding has not only displaced thousands of people but also threatens food security since large parts of farmland are affected. How North Korean authorities respond to this crisis will be a crucial test. They need to provide relief and rebuild after the devastating floods.
