Yoon "Heart heavy over tragic damage caused by heavy rain"
On the afternoon of the 8th, a resident was looking at a pile of collapsed soil that buried a house in a village in Geumhak-ri, Ipam-myeon, Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk, due to heavy rain. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 15th, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared five local governments?Yeongdong-gun in Chungbuk, Nonsan-si and Seocheon-gun in Chungnam, Wanju-gun in Jeonbuk, and Ipam-myeon in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk?as special disaster zones due to large-scale damage caused by heavy rain.
Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, announced this in a written briefing on the same day.
The Presidential Office explained, "The areas declared as special disaster zones this time are those where preliminary damage assessments have been completed," adding, "The government plans to conduct joint investigations by the end of this month for areas not declared this time, and if they meet the declaration criteria, they will be additionally designated as special disaster zones."
President Yoon said, "I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate damage caused by the record-breaking heavy rain," and urged related agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, "As the rainy season front moves north again this week, additional damage is expected, so promptly carry out emergency restoration and damage assessments in the affected areas, and ensure thorough preparedness in other regions as well."
During the morning senior secretaries meeting, President Yoon emphasized that vigilance must be maintained until the rainy season is completely over, urging his aides to "make every effort to respond to the heavy rain by inspecting embankments and drainage facilities."
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