"Wonsan 132mm Rain in 3 Hours" Damage Spreads Across North Korea's Gangwon Province Due to Typhoon Maysak (Update)

Wonsan Completely Flooded by Over 200mm of Rain
Geumgang County Rivers Overflow, Traffic Banned
Tongcheon County Faces Landslides and Waves Up to 7m High
Joongang TV 24-Hour Disaster Alert... Major City Situations Reported

On the 3rd, Chosun Central TV reported that Typhoon No. 9 'Maysak' was approaching northward, bringing heavy rain to Wonsan city in Gangwon Province. The flooded area appears to be the coastal plaza in the center of Wonsan city. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Due to the impact of Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon of the season, heavy rain has caused continuous damage in North Korea as well. The city center of Wonsan in Kangwon Province is completely submerged, and in Geumgang County, swollen rivers have forced residents to evacuate. North Korea is maintaining a 24-hour disaster broadcast system, staying on high alert.

On the morning of the 3rd, around 6 a.m., Korean Central TV broadcast live footage of the submerged city center of Wonsan.

According to the broadcast, the roads in Wonsan city center were completely covered with muddy water, resembling a large river. Apartments surrounding a wide plaza, the Juche Tower building, and street trees were all surrounded by water.

Wonsan, a major tourist city in North Korea, experienced 132 mm of rain in just three hours due to the influence of Typhoon Maysak.

The broadcast reported, "The characteristic of Typhoon No. 9 is that it brings more rainfall than wind," adding, "From 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. in Wonsan, a heavy downpour of 132 mm fell intensively, and the total rainfall from 9 p.m. on the 2nd to 6 a.m. on the 3rd reached 200 mm." In particular, the sea level rose 77 cm higher than usual due to this.

The situation in Geumgang County and Tongcheon County, located further south, is no different. Geumgang County recorded 120 mm of rain as of 9 a.m., and the swollen Geumgang River caused a bridge to bend, resulting in a traffic ban. Residents evacuated to safe areas.

Wave heights in the sea off Tongcheon reached 7 meters as of 8 a.m., with strong winds exceeding 15 m/s.

In Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province, a tidal wave phenomenon occurred. A reporter from Central TV on site explained, "A 50 cm tidal wave phenomenon is appearing in the Seoh o and Majon coastal areas," adding, "Some roads are submerged, making it difficult for vehicles to operate." The Seoh o and Majon coastal areas received 168 mm of rain, while Hamhung city recorded 68 mm.

Chosun Central TV has entered an overnight disaster broadcast system as Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon, approaches. The photo shows the report on the typhoon's location and movement speed at 6 a.m. on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

North Korea has been reporting the current position of Typhoon Maysak and the situation in major cities almost every hour from 6 p.m. on the 2nd to the present morning of the 3rd through Central TV. It is unusual for North Korea to establish a 24-hour typhoon special broadcast system and send reporters on site to report the situation in real time.

The broadcast stated, "As of 7 a.m., Typhoon No. 9 has reached the sea about 40 km east of Gangneung in South Kangwon Province," and "The entire Kangwon Province and parts of South Hamgyong Province are within the typhoon's influence."

It continued, "Heavy rain exceeding 200 to 300 mm accompanied by downpours will fall intensively in various areas along the east coast, northern inland, and central inland," urging the establishment of measures to prevent casualties, destruction of houses and public buildings, and flooding of farmland.

Meanwhile, according to Korean Central News Agency, Premier Kim Deokhun visited housing sites and cooperative farms in Kimhwa County and Pyeonggang County in Kangwon Province to discuss restoration measures. Premier Kim had previously visited flood damage sites in South Hwanghae Province on the 30th of last month as his first field visit.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.