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North Korea hit by fresh floods
Rains hit as country struggles to recover from devastating floods last month.
Last Modified: 21 Sep 2007 08:29 GMT
The floods have wiped out large areas of farmland, North Korean state media reported

Heavy rains have again hit North Korea as the country struggles to recover from massive floods in August.

 

Storms caused by Typhoon Wipha lashed the country late on Thursday, causing widespread flooding and cutting transport links.

State media said rice and other crops were lost as the rains inundated western provinces and the capital, Pyongyang.

 

Almost 37 cm of rain was recorded in the provinces of South Hwanghae, South Phyongan and North Hwanghae in one day.

Last month's flooding killed at least 600 people and left about a third of a million homeless.

 

There have been no reports yet of any deaths as a result of the latest floods.

 

Typhoon Wipha killed at least nine people in China earlier this week after it struck the country's eastern coast.

 

Officials there had feared the storm would be one of the worst in recent years, but it rapidly lost strength after making landfall.

 

Wipha then regained strength once again as it headed across the sea toward the Korean peninsula.

 

Even before the August floods, North Korea was already reliant on international aid to help make up a food shortfall of about one million tons, or 20 per cent of its needs.

 

Experts say the clearing and terracing of hillsides to create more cropland is a major reason for the periodic severe flooding experienced in North Korea.

Source:
Agencies
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