Pyongyang pounded by heavy rain, strong winds

Uprooted trees caused by heavy rain and strong winds in North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang, are seen in this footage captured from Korean Central Television, June 26. Yonhap

Heavy rain accompanied by strong wind pounded Pyongyang and western parts of North Korea overnight, prompting the authorities to prepare for the upcoming rainy season, state media reported Sunday.

Pyongyang's central district received 58 millimeters of rain per hour, while areas around the Taedong River, which runs through the capital city, had 67 mm of rain per hour Saturday night, the North's weather agency was quoted as saying by Korean Central Television.

The western port city of Nampo was hit by strong winds of more than 20 meters per second.

Video footage showed uprooted and broken trees in downtown Pyongyang, while the water level of the Taedong River had risen to near warning level.

The State Hydro-Meteorological Administration said this year's rainy season is expected to begin Monday, forecasting up to 300 mm of rain in western parts of the nation from Tuesday to Thursday.

Authorities called for thorough preparations to prevent flood damage to farmlands and households, reminding residents of Typhoon Bolaven that battered the nation in 2012. (Yonhap)