Typhoon “Lingling” killed 8 in North Korea, destroyed 460 houses and 46 200 ha (114 162 acres) of farmland

Typhoon "Lingling" has passed over the Korean Peninsula from September 6 to September 7, 2019, killing at least 8 people in North Korea and 3 in South Korea. North Korean media encouraged citizens to mobilize over the weekend.

Emergency responses have begun in North Korea after Lingling hit the country and workers have started repairing electricity networks that were affected by the storm.

According to official Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, Lingling killed at least 5 people, destroyed 460 houses and 15 public buildings, and 46 200 ha (114 162 acres) of farmland in North Korea. 33 people received storm-related injuries in the country.

According to the KBS, North Korean authorities tallied 8 casualties and reported damages and restoration efforts in an unusually prompt manner, demonstrating a disaster management system vastly different from previous ones.

Korean Central TV aired the extent of the damage in a breaking news format and urged a speedy recovery.

Lingling, the fifth-strongest storm to ever strike South Korea made landfall on September 7, 2019, before moving towards the north with wind gusts of up to 140 km/h (86 mph).

South Korean media said North Korea could eventually report more typhoon-related casualties and damage.

In Japan, officials have suspended railway and subway services and canceled flights at Tokyo airports. Faxai killed 2 person, reports said.

Authorities also received reports about damages due to torn trees and blown-off parts. Over 900 000 cases of power interruptions were recorded while the typhoon struck the country.

Featured image credit: KBS