Floods killed 88 Koreans

Floods sweeping across Korea this month have resulted in a total of 88 deaths and tens of thousands of people homeless.

The official Korean news agency KCNA said the week-long flood due to storms and heavy rain caused serious human and property damage. The total number of deaths so far has increased sharply compared with the statistics of 8 people killed on July 25.

The flood that began on July 18 also injured 134 people and nearly 63,000 people left homeless. The biggest loss was in two districts of Nam Pyongan province, which experienced heavy downpours during the two days of 23 and 24/7.

North Korean rescue force in flood zone. (Photo: Thenews)

More than 30,000 hectares of farmland have been "flattened and buried" or flooded, causing severe consequences for the country which is always in a state of food shortages. UN organizations, after a trip to Korea, estimate that about 3 million people in the country will need food assistance in 2012. About 300 public buildings, 60 factories and many sections also destroyed by flood water.

Korean media earlier this week reported that 60 flood victims were rescued by an emergency helicopter dispatched by leader Kim Jong-un. The victims, including women and children, were trapped on a small hill in the northwest of the country, after heavy rains broke the river bank.

Decades of deforestation have caused Korea to suffer from heavy flooding. Dozens of people were killed or injured by a storm with heavy rain in the same period last year. Thousands of people lost their homes and a large area of ​​agricultural land turned into sea water.

The rugged terrain, backward infrastructure and harsh weather make it difficult for the country's agriculture to produce and provide food for 24 million people. North Korea has reached a food aid agreement with the United States on February 29, citing its controversial nuclear program and testing of missiles. However, the deal was quickly canceled after Pyongyang continued to launch satellite-carrying missiles on April 13.

Although the missile launch failed, the United States and its allies still condemned the strong North for breaking commitments and violating the UN ban. North Korea has developed nuclear weapons for decades and has twice nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.