North Koreans hardest hit by natural disasters, study shows

SEOUL, April 6 (UPI) -- Nearly 7 out of 10 North Koreans were affected by natural disasters in 2015, including droughts and floods.

The analysis from the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters at the University of Leuven in Belgium indicated that about 18 million North Koreans were disaster-stricken to varying degrees, the highest among all countries in the world.

North Korea was ranked No. 1 in most affected by disasters, followed by India with 16.6 million, Ethiopia with 10.2 million and Nepal with 5.6 million

The country also placed No. 1 for rates measured per 100,000 population, Voice of America reported.

In North Korea 71,937 residents per 100,000 were victims of natural disasters in 2015, followed by Vanuatu, the Dominican Republic and Mongolia.

North Korea has been struggling with intervals of drought and torrential rain on an annual basis. Extremely high temperatures in the summer and cold weather and heavy snow in the winter are also taking a toll, according to the report.

In 2015, North Korea experienced a severe drought beginning in May. In early August heavy rains led to flooding.

North Korea, however, was not included in the list of countries with the largest number of casualties due to natural disasters.

Last year about 44 percent of all natural disasters were recorded in Asia, and 72 percent of casualties were Asian.

A total of 346 natural disaster events occurred in 2015, according to the study.