Recent heavy rainfall around the Amnok River has sparked concerns about potential flooding at the Sinuiju water treatment plant. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on the 6th that levees in the area have collapsed.
Analyzing satellite images taken on the 2nd by the American commercial satellite company Planet Labs, RFA found that multiple levees had collapsed in the Donghari village on Wihwa Island, leading to widespread flooding in low-lying areas.
The satellite images show Wihwa Island submerged in muddy water, with a river approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long stretching across the island. Jacob Bogle, an analyst of American commercial satellites, told RFA, “Most of the damage appears to be limited to agricultural land and buildings, but dozens of houses may have been partially inundated during severe flooding.”
This flooding likely impacted the Sinuiju water treatment plant. If submerged, the plant could face drinking water shortages and malfunctioning purification facilities, leading to waterborne diseases.
While satellite images taken on the 2nd do not show the water treatment plant submerged, Bogle suggested it might have flooded when water levels peaked at the end of July.
The Sinuiju water treatment plant previously suffered damage from heavy rains in mid-August 2010. At that time, UNICEF provided transport pipes to restore pumping facilities, and the Red Cross supplied over 5.8 million liters of drinking water to 16,000 residents in the Amnok River basin.
North Korea is focusing on sanitation efforts in the area. The ruling party’s newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported, “Sanitation and medical services are being actively conducted,” emphasizing the thorough disinfection of water supply facilities according to regulations.
Furthermore, the report noted that preventive medications to combat potential diseases arising from disinfectants and flooding are being supplied immediately, and vaccination efforts are actively promoted.
