Typhoons Pound Korean Peninsula, Leaves Ships Destroyed and At Least 8 Fishermen Dead

Today, the Korean peninsula is starting recovery after the destructive Typhoon Bolaven ravaged the two countries. They are also preparing for another looming typhoon that will reportedly cause significant damage to North Korea when it hits.

Bolaven killed at least 12 people in South Korea, including 8 Chinese fishermen killed off the coast in shipwrecks. The storm stirred up rough seas that destroyed two Chinese fishing ships – throwing them into rocks off southern Jeju Island. Seven men are still missing. Coast guard vessels were searching for the missing fishermen after an eighth dead body washed ashore today. The coast guard rescued 12 fishermen from the ships on Tuesday, and six others swam or were washed ashore.

Weather officials had warned that Bolaven would be the strongest typhoon to hit the region in several years, but its gusts in other parts of Asia weren't as powerful as predicted, reports Fox News. Bolaven temporarily left hundreds of thousands without power, canceled flights, left nearly 100 families homeless and damaged farm land.

The storm killed at least four other people across South Korea.

Typhoon Tembin, meanwhile, is expected to reach South Korea on Thursday, with its outer bands hitting North Korea later in the day. The storm is expected to weaken as it reaches North Korea. Heavy rain, however, often means devastation in the North because of poor drainage, deforestation and decaying infrastructure.

These storms come as North Korea is still in recovery mode after heavy flooding in July. More than 170 died nationwide, and tens of thousands of homes were destroyed in the floods. Many victims still live in tents with limited access to water and other basic facilities, and there is worry about increased malnutrition in coming weeks, according to the United Nations.