2024 Korea floods
| Date | July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern South Korea
Northwestern North Korea |
| Cause | Heavy rainfall |
| Deaths |
|
| Property damage | North Korea: 4,100 homes and 7,410 acres of farmland |
In 2024, heavy rainfall struck the Korean peninsula, causing significant flooding in July 2024 that caused an estimated 1,500 deaths in North Korea and four deaths in South Korea.[1] Unconventionally, the flooding in North Korea was covered extensively in North Korean state media, with substantial rescue operations conducted, with South Korean media reporting multiple helicopter crashes occurring during the rescue attempts in North Korea.[2]
Flooding
[edit]North Korea
[edit]On 27 July 2024, significant flooding struck northwestern regions of North Korea, including large areas of farmland in northern settlements near its border with China. According to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) North Korean state media, about 4,100 homes and 7,410 acres of farmland were flooded in Sinuiju city and Uiju, with large areas of infrastructure being severely flooded, including railways, roads, and public buildings.[2] The flooding was also reported to have caused about 5,000 residents to be isolated from help or rescue. KCNA images showed significant flooding in North Pyongan province that submerged rows of houses up to their roofs with muddy water.[1]
South Korean media TV Chosun reported that the number of North Korean fatalities and missing were estimated to have reached 1,500, and also reported that North Korean rescue workers could have potentially died in multiple helicopter crashes during recovery operations.[1]
North Korean media covered the disasters much more prominently compared to previous disasters or incidents, with North Korea's state newspaper calling it a "grave crisis", as well as television showing footage of flooded areas. Video taken of rescues showed that rescue efforts were more extensive relative to past disasters, with state media claiming that over 4,200 North Korean citizens were able to be evacuated with more than ten planes making up to twenty round-trip rescues consecutively.[3]
South Korea
[edit]On 10 July 2024, heavy rainfall in the southern regions of South Korea killed at least four people, displaced at least 3,500 people, and prompted the issuing of landslide warnings in at least fifty regions. One person died in a flooded apartment building elevator in Nonsan, a farmer was killed after being dragged by floodwaters into a drainage system, a man drowned after the car he was driving fell into a flooded river, and a man died in the hospital after being struck by a landslide. Chupungnyeong, Gunsan, and Geumsan County received the most precipitation, breaking hourly precipitation records in the regions at a "level of severity seen once in about 200 years". For Gunsan, rainfall of 131.7mm (5.4 inches) fell within one hour, greater than 10% of Gunsan's average annual rainfall.[4]
Responses
[edit]North Korean state media reported that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un traveled to flooding sites to survey damages.[1] State media stated that he "personally directed the battle" towards rescuing civilians, and declared sections of three provinces as disaster zones. He claimed that there were no casualties in Sinuiju due to successful rescues by North Korean air force troops. He expressed condemnation towards public officials for not responsibly undertaking disaster prevention measures.[2] A government meeting agreed on constructing 4,400 new houses in Sinuiju and Uiju, while also reinforcing embankments and restoring damaged infrastructure in Jagang province.[5]
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to North Korea for damage and casualties caused by the flooding, and offered to provide humanitarian support to mitigate the aftermath. Kim Jong-un expressed thanks to Putin for his support and referred to him as a "genuine friend", stating that while the North Korean government was conducting recovery work, that he would be open to asking for more support “if aid is necessary”.[1]
South Korea offered to give humanitarian aid to North Korea following the downpours, which the North Korea indicated that it would reject it. On 3 August, Kim Jong-un accused South Korea of "spreading rumors" about the extent of the damage and casualties caused by the flooding, stating that their reports represented a "smear campaign to bring disgrace upon us and tarnish" the esteem of the nation.[1] He further emphasized that humanitarian efforts from the nation's "unchangeable enemy" would entirely compromise its national security, which he refused to sacrifice even for disaster recovery and civilian aid.[6]
See also
[edit]- Floods in Korea
- 2012 North Korean floods
- 2020 Korean floods
- 2022 South Korean floods
- 2023 South Korea floods
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "North Korea floods: Putin pledges aid after Kim Jong-un rebuffs Seoul's offer of assistance". The Guardian. 2024-08-04. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ a b c "North Korean leader accuses South Korea of a smear campaign over floods and hints at rejecting aid". AP News. 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Liang, Annabelle (29 July 2024). "North Korea: Thousands stranded as Kim declares 'emergency'". BBC. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Four killed as heavy rains pound South Korea". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Recent rains in North Korea flooded thousands of houses and vast farmland, state media says". AP News. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "North Korean leader accuses South Korea of a smear campaign over floods and hints at rejecting aid". AP News. 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
