Chungnam, Interim Assessment of Heavy Rain Damage at 128.7 Billion KRW: "Additional Special Disaster Area Declaration Needed"

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A provisional tally of the scale of heavy rain damage in the Chungnam region has been released.

According to Chungnam Province on the 10th, a total of 11,568 cases of heavy rain damage have been reported in the region as of that day, with the damage amounting to 128.7 billion KRW on a provisional basis.

This figure represents damage to facilities and property; in addition, Chungnam has suffered human casualties including 1 death and 2 missing persons.

Furthermore, in 9 cities and counties, a total of 657 households comprising 1,131 evacuees were displaced due to the heavy rain, and as of that day, 424 people from 196 households were staying in temporary shelters such as senior centers, schools, and lodging facilities.

The province is focusing administrative efforts to minimize further human and property damage, maintaining a 24-hour emergency duty system while strengthening publicity and disaster response including weather warnings and flood information.

In addition, alongside rapid damage surveys and emergency restoration, evacuation and monitoring activities are being conducted simultaneously for residents in disaster-vulnerable areas such as landslide risk zones, lowlands, and underground passages.

However, despite these efforts, the province is concerned that if heavy rains continue, including from Typhoon ‘Jangmi’, the scale of damage is likely to increase further.

Based on this, the province appeals that in addition to Cheonan and Asan, which are currently designated as special disaster zones, additional designations of special disaster zones may be necessary depending on future damage status.

Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungnam Province, stated, “On the 7th, two areas including Cheonan and Asan were declared special disaster zones. The province plans to actively respond so that cities and counties with significant damage may be additionally declared special disaster zones in the future.”

Meanwhile, the average cumulative rainfall in the Chungnam region from the 23rd of last month to the 10th of this month was recorded at 431 mm. During this period, Cheonan recorded the highest cumulative rainfall at 543 mm, and Songak-myeon in Asan City recorded the highest daily rainfall (273 mm) and the highest hourly rainfall (85 mm).