North Korea Reports 31 More Deaths From Downpours

North Korea says dozens more people have been killed or reported missing because of heavy rainfall this week.

The announcement Wednesday comes a day after U.N. staff visited storm-pounded areas to assess damage and investigate the needs of flood victims. Earlier rains killed 88 and left more than 60,000 others homeless. Before the downpours, North Korea suffered a severe drought.

The country’s official Korean Central News Agency says heavy rain that hit western and eastern coastal areas on Sunday and Monday killed 31 and left 16 others missing.

The Red Cross says fact-finding teams in North Korea report that people desperately need clean drinking water, food and shelter.

The U.N. said in June that two-thirds of North Korea’s 24 million people face chronic food shortages.