North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects flooded areas near country's border with China after flooding affects 5,000 people, reported North Korea's Korean Central Telegraph Agency (KCTA), quoted by Yonhap, Reuters and BTA.
Saturday's record-breaking downpours in the North Korean city of Xinju and nearby areas bordering China left about 5,000 people stranded. The North Korean armed forces organized a dozen helicopters, which made about 20 flights each to rescue 4,200 people within about half a day, the agency emphasized. Kim has praised the military for its rescue efforts, which he said have saved thousands of lives, but faulted officials for insufficiently preparing crisis response measures to prevent damage caused by heavy rains, floods and typhoons.
In recent days, the region has been hit by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Gemi. A rain-triggered landslide killed 12 people in southern China, and there were flash floods elsewhere.