Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, published photos on July 31, 2024, showing leader Kim Jong Un touring flood-damaged areas of Sinuiju city and Uiju county in North Pyongan province. / Image: Rodong Sinmun, News1
Sinuiju, the North Pyongan province city that suffered catastrophic flood damage in the summer of 2024, is underwater again, this time because a short burst of intense rain overwhelmed the city’s weak drainage system rather than the Yalu River overflowing its banks. With low-lying neighborhoods submerged and power and water cut off, the flooding has become the latest sign of how fragile North Korea’s urban infrastructure remains against extreme weather.
According to a Daily NK source in North Pyongan province who spoke Thursday, heavy rain pounded the Sinuiju area on Aug. 23 and 24. The downpour briefly let up on Aug. 25 before picking up again overnight into Aug. 26.
“During the flooding in 2024, the river overflowed and that caused the damage. This time, the damage happened because the rainwater couldn’t drain away,” the source said. “The standing water can’t recede, and since it keeps raining, there’s even less chance for it to drain, so many areas remain flooded.”
“The rain stopped briefly on Aug. 25, and we thought the water might start receding, but it began raining again overnight into the early hours of Aug. 26,” the source added. “With the rain continuing like this, people don’t know when the water will finally recede, and they’re feeling anxious.”
The pattern of this flooding is markedly different from the 2024 disaster, according to the source. In 2024, the Yalu River overflowed and heavily damaged Wihwa Island and areas along the riverbank. This time, weak drainage conditions caused flooding across low-lying areas throughout the city.
In Sumun neighborhood, both electricity and water service remained cut off as of Aug. 26, and a significant number of single-story homes were submerged, forcing people to evacuate to higher ground. Temporary shelters have also been set up in some neighborhoods, including Ryonsang and Ryonha, to house flood victims as part of the response, according to the source.
Little state aid expected this time
Amid the damage, flood victims are reportedly resigned to the idea that nationwide recovery assistance will not follow this time, meaning they will have to rebuild their homes and belongings on their own once the water recedes.
“During the previous flooding, the Yalu River overflowed and the damage was highly visible from the outside, and the Marshal (Kim Jong Un) personally visited the area, so nationwide recovery assistance followed. This time, though, the visible damage isn’t as extensive,” the source said. “So there’s a strong sense among people that they shouldn’t expect much state support and will need to rebuild on their own.”
“In terms of the actual damage people have suffered, this time isn’t much different from before,” the source added. “With electricity and water cut off and homes and belongings submerged for days, people are struggling not only with immediate concerns like food and shelter, but even more with the uncertainty of how they’ll rebuild their lives once the water finally recedes.”
The latest flooding is seen as a case that exposes both the topographical characteristics of the Sinuiju area and its vulnerable drainage infrastructure. With North Korean authorities not disclosing detailed information about the damage this time, attention is turning to how extensive and thorough any future recovery efforts will be.
Rodong Sinmun reported Aug. 26 that rain and showers fell across most of the country between Aug. 23 and 24 due to a low-pressure trough and the seasonal rain front, with heavy rain also reported in several areas of North Pyongan province, some areas of South Pyongan province, and localized areas of Jagang province.
According to the newspaper, on Aug. 24 alone, Kusong received 408 millimeters of rain, Sinuiju 379 millimeters, Chonma 365 millimeters, Wihwa Island 329 millimeters, Uiju and Taechon 319 millimeters, Phihyon 267 millimeters, Nyongbyon 224 millimeters and Taegwan 216 millimeters, all considered extremely heavy rainfall. Hyangsan, Kaechon, Pakchon, Kujang, Unsan and Ryongchon received 150 to 200 millimeters, or heavy rainfall.
Earlier, on Aug. 24, North Korea’s Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported that Sinuiju recorded 333.9 millimeters of rainfall between midnight and 2 p.m. that day, prompting authorities to issue a heavy rain emergency warning.
Reporting from inside North Korea
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