Rain batters China; 250,000 evacuated in flood (along border with North Korea)

[Turborama]

Source: AP

ALEXA OLESEN -

Associated Press Writer= BEIJING (AP) — Flooding has forced the evacuation of more than a quarter-million people in northern China along its border with North Korea, state media said Monday.

Heavy rains over the last several days caused the Yalu river, which marks the border, to breach its banks, although the water level had started to fall late Sunday, the official Xinhua News Agency state media said Monday. It said four people died, including a couple in their 70s and a mother and son, after their homes in Dandong were swept away by flash floods. Xinhua said 253,500 residents have been evacuated after the Yalu rose to its highest level in a decade.

An official with the Water Resources Department in Liaoning province, where Dandong is located, confirmed that four people had died though he was unable to provide details. He refused to give his name because he was not authorized to speak with the media.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said torrential rain and water from the overflowing Yalu — or Amnok as it is known in Korean — swamped houses, public buildings and farmland in more than five villages near Sinuiju, the city opposite Dandong.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9231670

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8974944">Remember This? "The Pentagon Tells Bush: Climate Change Will Destroy Us" --- Here's An Update

[dkf]

1. Wow is everything Al Gore warned us about beginning to happen?

[sabrina 1]

2. Wow, I knew they were having problems with mud-slides

a week or more ago. But I did not know it was this bad. A quarter of a million people. They had already lost over 1,000 people. It doesn't say if there have been any more deaths.

I read that Pentagon Report several years ago and was stunned. AIRC, it was considered the most serious threat to National Security at the time. But Bush et al who knew this, continued to deny climate change.

Sometimes I wish I believed in Hell. Or at least somewhere where we get to face these people and make them look at the harm they've done to this world.

:kick: & R

[HEyHEY]

3. I was in Shandong yesterday, it was insane

Driving in five inches of rain on the highway. The other story that isn't really reported regarding this is the temperatures in Beijing this year. Summer came extremely late and already seems to be cooling off. This time last year it we still got 38 degree days all the time....today is about 24.

[Turborama]

4. I've been looking at Chinese TV and the devastation is incredible

Have you been writing about what's been going on there, or is that not your field of work?

We've got something weird going on here in Indonesia that hasn't been reported, too. The wet and ry seasons have reversed over the past 12 months. We won't know for a couple of months if this was a freak event or has become the "new normal".

[Turborama]

5. North Korea Reports on the Devastating Floods

Updated : August 23, 2010

Houses, public buildings and farmlands are completely swamped in water in the villages near Sinuiju, a city located on the border between North Korea and China. Torrential rain hit China's northeastern regions Thursday and Friday causing the Yalu River, which flows across China and North Korea, to submerge several neighboring towns of Sinuiju.

Unprecedently, North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency reported immediately on the devastating floods, showing pictures of rescue operations and evacuating residents. "The waters of the Yalu River surged rapidly from late Friday night, flooding Hadan and Daji counties, as well as Ojok and Maksa Provinces. Helicopters of the military units have successfully moved over 5100 trapped residents to safe areas."

Although the agency failed to report on possible deaths or injuries, the unusual broadcasting of the flooding is seen by many as a means of appeal for international aid.

According to Radio Free Asia, North Korea has asked a US-Korean Christian relief organization for help, informing them of the seriousness of the damage caused by the disaster.

More: http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=106177&code=Ne2&category=2