Typhoon Bolaven kills 48 in N. Korea

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Typhoon Bolaven killed at least 48 people and inflicted severe damage in North Korea, another country ravaged by the storm's fury, KCNA news agency said.

The storm struck the impoverished, isolated Communist country last Tuesday and Wednesday after wreaking havoc in South Korea and China, making it the worst to hit the Korean Peninsula in a decade.

China's Xinhua news agency, citing official North Korean reports, said Bolaven left 21,800 people homeless there.

The official KCNA news agency said as of Sunday 48 people had been confirmed dead. The storm destroyed 6,700 homes across the country, damaged 124,000 acres of crops and nearly as much acreage of rice fields. The report said the storm knocked down 16,730 trees, and heavily damaged 880 industrial and public buildings.

In South Korea, Bolaven killed at least 10 people, caused heavy property damage, flooded nearly 7,000 acres of farmland and destroyed fish farms on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. Prior to entering South Korea from Japan's Okinawa Island, the storm crippled two Chinese fishing boats off South Korea's Jeju Island, killing five Chinese fishermen and leaving 10 others missing.

The storm also triggered heavy flooding in China's northeastern region, driving thousands from their homes.