Yeongyang County Provides Support for Recovery of Households Affected by Heavy Rain

Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province reported that on the 8th, due to a sudden heavy downpour (with a maximum rainfall of 174.5mm in Cheonggi-myeon and an average rainfall of 136.63mm), 128 residents evacuated to village halls, local homes, and health centers, while both public and private sectors mobilized for recovery efforts.

Farmland washed away by heavy rain in Daecheon-ri, Ipam-myeon, Yeongyang-gun. [Image source=Yeongyang-gun]

Roads such as National Route 31 between Hyeon-ri and Gamcheon-ri in Yeongyang-eup, Local Road 911 (Sangcheong 1 to Cheonggi 2-ri), Local Road 920 (near Jeongok-ri), County Road 2 (Maryeong to Sanhae), County Road 11 (Geumhak Reservoir), 214 Gumae-ri in Cheonggi-myeon, Seobu 3-ri in Yeongyang-eup, and areas near Ogi-ri in Subi-myeon were closed due to landslides and ground subsidence.

Particularly in Geumhak-ri and Daecheon-ri of Ippam-myeon, where the rainfall was heaviest, around 50 residents had to evacuate urgently around 3 a.m. The area suffered from landslides, flooding, water and power outages, and most of the village was submerged.

Thanks to prior patrol inspections and swift evacuation, there were no casualties. However, in Geumhak-ri and Daecheon-ri of Ippam-myeon, five households were swept away by debris and became unrecognizable, 16 households suffered flood damage, and more than 62 hectares of farmland were lost or buried.

In addition to private property damage such as flooded or partially destroyed homes and lost or buried farmland, public infrastructure also suffered severe damage, including road collapses, embankment failures, landslides, toppled utility poles, communication network failures, and water supply line losses, making recovery inevitable.

In response, over 230 people from the public sector and civic groups?including the Volunteer Center, Saemaeul Association, Bareuge Salgi Movement Council, Volunteer Fire Brigade, Village Leaders Association, and Rural Housewives Association?participated voluntarily to remove debris from homes, clean flooded furniture, and dispose of waste as part of environmental cleanup efforts.

A resident who received flood recovery support (Mr. Lee, 73) expressed gratitude, saying, "I was at a loss due to the flood damage, but the help from so many people was a great support in the recovery process."

Yeongyang County plans to continue support activities starting from the 9th until emergency recovery is complete.

County Governor Oh Dochang stated, "This heavy rain brought explosive rainfall in a short period, threatening residents' lives and causing significant property damage. I offer my condolences to those affected and will do my utmost to support a swift recovery so that daily life can return to normal as soon as possible."