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South Korea: Central government to survey flood damage in Geoje and Tongyeong
🇰🇷 South Korea /Disasters & Emergencies

South Korea: Central government to survey flood damage in Geoje and Tongyeong

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The South Korean government begins a central joint survey today in Geoje and Tongyeong, areas severely damaged by heavy rainfall during the Liberation Day holiday.
  • The survey aims to assess the full extent of the damage to determine if Tongyeong can be declared a special disaster zone.
  • Tongyeong has reported provisional damages of approximately 34 billion won, with significant impacts on public and private facilities, including its numerous islands.

The South Korean government is launching a central joint survey today in the southern coastal cities of Geoje and Tongyeong, which suffered extensive damage from extreme rainfall over the Liberation Day holiday. The survey, involving relevant ministries and private experts, will assess the full scope of the devastation, with particular attention on whether the entire city of Tongyeong will be designated a special disaster zone.

Tongyeong has reported provisional damages amounting to approximately 34 billion won (about $25 million USD). This figure includes damage to 297 public facilities, such as roads, rivers, and water systems, totaling 25.4 billion won, and damage to 2,467 private facilities, including shops and farmlands, valued at 8.5 billion won. The coastal city, comprised of 570 islands and coastal areas, faces unique challenges in damage assessment and restoration due to its geography.

Tongyeong City will actively propose that the damage across the entire region be fully reflected in this central joint investigation and that the entire city be designated as a special disaster zone.

— Tongyeong City OfficialStating the city's objective for the upcoming central joint survey.

Islands within Tongyeong have also sustained considerable damage. Hansan Island reported the highest provisional damage at 4.37 billion won, followed by Sayang Island at 936 million won and Yokji Island at 200 million won. Officials emphasize that the total damage is expected to increase as the assessment continues, noting that the geographical characteristics of the islands make damage investigation and facility restoration more difficult and costly compared to the mainland.

Previously, the government had already declared the entirety of Geoje city and specific areas of Tongyeong (Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong) as special disaster zones on August 21. Such a designation allows local governments, often facing financial constraints, to receive additional national funding for large-scale recovery efforts. Tongyeong city plans to actively advocate for the entire city to be recognized as a special disaster zone during the central joint survey and is also requesting 2 billion won in special grant aid for emergency recovery.

We are also requesting 2 billion won in special grant aid for emergency recovery.

— Tongyeong City OfficialHighlighting the financial assistance requested for immediate relief efforts.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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