(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-25 21:28

SEOUL, South Korea - Floods that swept across North Korea earlier this month killed at least 600 people, double the previously known toll, the country's official news agency said Saturday.

A South Korean worker from Korea Red Cross walks past next to packs of aid supply kits for North Korean victims at the branch of Red Cross in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007. [AP]

Citing North Korea's Central Statistics Bureau, the Korean Central News Agency reported at least 600 people were dead or missing and thousands were injured. The report was the first time that North Korea's media have specified a precise death toll from the disaster.

Earlier, international aid groups put the toll at about 300 dead or missing.

KCNA said the heavy rains caused "huge material losses" to the country, "creating unprecedented difficulties in people's living and economic construction."

At least 100,000 people were left homeless and more than 8,000 public buildings were totally or partially destroyed, it said.

More than 1,000 factory or mining buildings were damaged or submerged by the torrential rains, and "lots" of arable land was washed away, the report said.

The rains also flooded four railroad tunnels and triggered landslides that buried at least 200 sections of track, it said. Thousands of sections of roads and bridges also were destroyed, KCNA said.