5,000 people rescued from flooding in North Korea

More than 5,000 people stranded by flooding in northwestern North Korea have been rescued through airlifts and other evacuation efforts led by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Monday.

Heavy rains Saturday caused a river on the North Korea-China border to rise to dangerous levels and create a “serious crisis,” the official Korean News Agency said. Dozens of military helicopters ships and state boats were mobilized for efforts to evacuate the isolated city and Ujes.

KCNA did not mention any deaths or how much damage the flooding caused. It said each of the about 10 helicopters made several fights to move the residents despite bad weather, ultimately rescuing 4,200 of the affected people by airlift.
It said Kim guided the evacuation works Sunday, ordered food and other necessities to be provided to affected people, and set tasks for recovery and relief works.

KCNA cited Kim as calling the rescue works “miraculous” as more than 5,000 people were saved through the efforts.
Summer floods in North Korea often cause serious damage to farmlands due to poor drainage, deforestation, and dilapidated infrastructure.

Typhoons and torrential rains in 2020 were among the difficulties Kim previously said had created “multiple crises” at home, along with draconian pandemic-related restrictions and UN sanctions over his nuclear weapons program.
During his weekend visit to the flooded region, Kim also scolded officials for lowering their guard though he had ordered efforts to prevent flood damage more than once, KCNA said.