South Korea's Geoje, Tongyeong reach 74.8% recovery after record floods

Seven days after record-breaking rainfall devastated the southern coastal cities of Geoje and Tongyeong, emergency recovery efforts have reached 74.8% completion. As of August 24, authorities reported that 1,701 out of 2,273 reported cases of damage have been addressed in the two cities. The torrential downpour, which occurred on August 16-17, caused significant infrastructure damage and resulted in casualties.

In Geoje, the disaster claimed one life and left two people injured. Tongyeong reported one injury. While most road and electrical damage has been repaired, ongoing issues include damage to water and sewage systems. A total of 356 households, comprising 675 residents, are still displaced from their homes. One apartment building in Geoje, where a landslide caused by the rain led to casualties, is undergoing safety assessments that are expected to take over two months. Residents of this building are currently housed in temporary accommodations, with no clear timeline for their return.

Schools in the affected regions also suffered damage, with 38 out of 60 affected schools completing emergency repairs. Two elementary schools in Geoje have postponed their second-semester start dates. The government has proactively declared Geoje city and specific areas of Tongyeong as special disaster zones. This designation provides enhanced support, including reductions on national health insurance, electricity, city gas, and communication bills, as well as exemptions from reserve forces training, in addition to the 24 types of aid available to general disaster areas.

Authorities are also considering expanding the special disaster zone designation to include all of Tongyeong, pending further damage assessments. The rainfall was unprecedented, with Geoje receiving 927.6 mm and Tongyeong 752.1 mm over two days. Geoje experienced an hourly rainfall of 124.5 mm on August 17, setting a new record for hourly precipitation since meteorological observations began in the region in 1972. The special disaster status allows for more comprehensive recovery projects aimed at preventing future damage, going beyond simple restoration.