North Korea’s recent flooding has claimed several hundred victims including the dead and missing, leaving around 68,900 residents homeless, state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday.

“The flood damage caused by Typhoon [Lionrock] sweeping the North Hamgyong Province from August 29 to September 2 is the ‘biggest cataclysm’ since [1945’s] Liberation,” KCNA said.

“A total of over 29,800 dwelling houses were damaged including more than the complete collapse of 11,600 houses. 900 production and public buildings were destroyed or damaged.”

A UN officer stationed in the North said the number of dead and missing exceeded 500 people.

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