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DANDONG, China -- The train explosion at North Korea¡¯s Ryongchon Station Thursday caused an estimated 300 million to 400 million euros (W410 billion to W550 billion) in property damage, said North Korea¡¯s deputy ambassador to the United Nations Kim Chang Guk on Monday (local time).
Kim said that so far, 154 people died and 1,300 were injured by the accident but the number is likely to increase as rescue work continues. Earlier, the International Red Cross staff said that the death toll reached 161.
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Looking devastated, the people of Ryongchon sit in front of the debris after the train explosion. This photo was taken by the World Food Program (WFP) on Sunday.
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In a statement, the White House announced Monday that the government was briefed by an international fact-finding team on the train explosion at Ryongchon and the government was deeply saddened by the report. Furthermore, the U.S. government said that it would provide US$100,000 (\115 million) through the Red Cross to aid Ryongchon. The U.S. Government added that if needed, the government is well prepared to dispatch medical experts to work with North Koreans, along with sending medical equipment and supplies.
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Officials from a Korean-American relief organization load up burn kits and instant noodles in front of a hospital in Dandong, China on Sunday. The organization sent one 10t truck to North Korea, and plans to send US$3 million in relief supplies by May 5.
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Six days passed since the explosion and relief goods are flowing into Ryongchon from various governmental departments, international organizations and civil institutions from the United States, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. However, due to poor medical conditions in North Korea, many injured people are left alone without proper treatment, a source in Dandong reported Tuesday.
(Lee Gwang-hoe, santafe@chosun.com )
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