North Korea admits Typhoon Kompasu toll

[Chacor]

Dozens of people died in North Korea after floods and landslides caused by a typhoon which hit the country earlier this month, state media said.

It is the first casualty toll from Typhoon Kompasu given by the Korean Central News Agency.

Nearly 9,000 buildings were destroyed and roads, railways and power lines were badly damaged, the report said.

It has prompted speculation that a rare ruling party conference has been delayed to deal with the disaster.

North Korea had said that the delegates would convene for the first time in 30 years in early September, without giving a specific date. Many analysts expect the meeting to give some indication of who will succeed Kim Jong-il.

Typhoon Kompasu hit the Korean peninsula on 2 September. "Several dozen people have died throughout the country due to torrential rain, strong winds and landslide," the KCNA said.

More than 8,300 homes and 230 public buildings were destroyed and over 30,000 hectares of farmland were ruined, the agency said.

Some 65km (40 miles) of railway tracks were also washed away.

[Chacor]

(The above from BBC News mobile: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world- ... c-11308699

Very rare for them to do such a thing. When Typhoon Ewiniar hit in 2006, they said nothing (outside sources estimated at least 10,000 deaths then).

[brunota2003]

You know...if they just lightened up and opened up to the world, they could receive all kinds of aid when events like that happen.