Heavy rain and flooding destroyed over 1,000 houses and large areas of farmland in rural parts of northeast North Korea earlier this week, state-run television reported on Thursday, showing images of inundated homes and collapsed riverbanks.

The state media broadcast confirms NK News analysis of satellite imagery showing that entire neighborhoods and schools washed away and multiple bridges broke apart from flooding in Sinhung county and other areas on the east coast between Aug. 1 and 3.

Korean Central Television (KCTV) finally aired on-the-ground images of the damage on Thursday night, days after the flooding occurred. The broadcaster said 1,170 homes were “destroyed or flooded” and that 5,000 people were evacuated in South Hamgyong province due to the floods. It also reported that hundreds of agricultural fields were flooded and nearly 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) of roads and bridges were damaged.

State media has not mentioned any casualties from the storms so far.

After parts of North and South Hamgyong province were hit with a reported 300 to 580 millimeters (12 to 23 inches) of rain in the first few days of August, state media began warning on Wednesday that the important northwestern city of Sinuiju on the border with China would see heavy rains from Aug. 5 to 6.

The DPRK State Hydro-Meteorological Administration warned via KCTV on Thursday that the country’s east coast was also projected to see heavy rains from Aug. 7 to 9, while it has warned that multiple typhoons could strike the country in the next two months.

The flooding and reported damages to large areas of farmland are likely to exacerbate North Korea’s current “food crisis,” especially as it comes after last month’s extended heat wave and drought. The crisis is believed to have been brought on in part by extreme rains and three successive typhoons in summer 2020.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has yet to publicly address this week’s disaster. Exactly one year ago, he was quick to visit an area closer to Pyongyang soon after similar damage from heavy rains and flooding occurred.

Edited by Bryan Betts