Yeongdeungpo-gu and Gwanak-gu Declared Special Disaster Areas... Dongjak-gu "Expects Additional Declaration"

[Seoul District News] Dongjak-gu Expresses Regret Over Exclusion from Special Disaster Area Declaration Unlike Yeongdeungpo-gu and Gwanak-gu, Explains "Scheduled for Additional Declaration as Special Disaster Area After Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Joint Investigation"... Gwanak-gu Intensifies Flood Area Quarantine Response

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak District, is inspecting houses flooded by heavy rain.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The government has prioritized the declaration of special disaster zones for eight cities, counties, and districts nationwide, including Yeongdeungpo and Gwanak districts in Seoul, Seongnam and Gwangju cities in Gyeonggi Province, as well as three towns and neighborhoods including Gaepo 1-dong in Gangnam-gu, which suffered damage from the record-breaking heavy rains on the 8th and 9th.

This decision was made after preliminary investigations confirmed that ten local governments met the criteria for disaster area declaration, and with the President's approval, these areas were prioritized for designation as special disaster zones.

In response, Dongjak-gu issued an urgent press release on the afternoon of the 22nd, expressing regret, stating, "We applied for the designation of a special disaster zone to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety through the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 16th, but the Ministry's designation this time prioritized areas where housing flood damage investigations have been completed."

In particular, Dongjak-gu announced that it is scheduled to be additionally declared a special disaster zone following the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘additional joint investigation’ from the 25th to the 31st.

Currently, Dongjak-gu is conducting a thorough damage survey across the entire district due to widespread disasters such as large-scale flooding of houses and commercial buildings and facility collapses.

Dongjak-gu reported that approximately 4,000 households have been registered as affected, and they will thoroughly present this information during the additional joint investigation to ensure swift designation as a special disaster zone.

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is making every effort to implement urgent intensive quarantine measures to prevent infectious diseases and the spread of pests in areas flooded by the recent record-breaking heavy rains.

According to the district, as of the 19th, the heavy rains have caused flooding in 6,000 households, 1,756 commercial stores and shops, and resulted in 615 displaced persons.

A health center official stated, “In flood-affected areas, there is a risk of waterborne infectious diseases such as typhoid fever and bacterial dysentery caused by contaminated water, as well as malaria transmitted by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, so prompt quarantine measures are necessary.”

The district has organized two teams of four members each, dedicated to quarantine in the Sillim and Bongcheon areas, conducting intensive disinfection in flood-affected areas and public facilities such as senior centers, daycare centers, and social welfare facilities.

Quarantine supplies such as hand sanitizers and disinfectants have been distributed to flood-affected areas, and disinfectants, insecticides, and repellents have been provided to each neighborhood community center for residents in need.

Since the 10th, in addition to the health center’s quarantine teams, 11 specialized private pest control companies, neighborhood autonomous disaster prevention groups, and Saemaul volunteer groups have been deployed to carry out disinfection work, completing quarantine and disinfection at 5,132 flood-affected houses and facilities by the 19th.

Residents wishing to receive disinfection services can apply through the Gwanak-gu Health Center or their local neighborhood community centers. The district plans to continue disinfection services for flooded households in affected areas until the situation is resolved.

Furthermore, the district is providing quarantine supplies such as hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes to evacuation shelters including neighborhood community centers, senior centers, and churches to prevent the spread of COVID-19, conducting disinfection and self-diagnostic tests once daily, and continuously monitoring health.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “With COVID-19 resurging and the heavy rains compounding the situation, the risk of infectious disease outbreaks has increased. Residents should adhere to personal hygiene rules as the risk of exposure to waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases is high. The district will strengthen quarantine activities and do its utmost to protect the health and safety of residents.”