South Korea says North Korea may have sustained "considerable" casualties in flooding triggered by heavy rain in the country's northwest in late July. Seoul has offered to provide emergency supplies to survivors of the disaster.

South Korea's Unification Ministry made the announcement on Thursday.

North Korea's state-run TV says record downpours caused a river running along the border with China to overflow. It says the flooding damaged about 4,100 houses in the province of North Phyongan. But it has not disclosed the number of casualties.

It is unclear whether North Korea will accept the aid proposal from South Korea. Pyongyang is toughening its stance toward President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration.

North Korea suffered major damage due to typhoons and heavy rain in 2016 and 2020. Its authorities said before the latest disaster that they had been beefing up anti-flooding measures.