8 people fall victims of heavy floods in North Korea

Heavy floods caused by torrential rains have taken away lives of eight people from July 20 to July 22, Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday. The flood waters destroyed or inundated 4,500 residenial houses, leaving some 17,700 people without shelter. The biggest destructions have been registered in the central provinces of Phyonggan-namdo and Phyonggan-Pukdo. Also, the plantations of cereals on an area of over 6,500 hectares have been damaged. Since the onset of the rainy season, which came in at the beginning of July, heavy damage has been inflicted on 45 school buildings and hospitals. Local authorities are taking steps to eliminate the aftermaths of the calamity. Official data says more than 300 people in North Korea died in the summer of 2012 because of typhoons and floods and another 600 people received injuries. Units of the Korean People's Army have been taking part in rescue operations.