Torrential rains in central Korea have killed 42 people and injured 94 in the Kaesong area alone, according to official figures. Also, 581 houses were submerged or destroyed, leaving 2,905 people homeless, according to figures released by the representative office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies ( ifrc ) in Kaesong, North Korea.

"Thousands of hectares of rice fields have been inundated and thousands of hectares of land were damaged,' North Korea's state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station said. "Houses, roads and facilities were destroyed and we are likely to lose considerable farm production this year, adding to the agony of our people,' it added.

According to the ifrc report, the Kaesong's Red Cross branch is assessing the damage jointly with the North Korean Red Cross and other international relief groups. They have deployed over 250 volunteers for rescue and first aid duties.