On the 3rd, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheolwoo informed the residents of the province about the current status of damage and the progress of the damage assessment for the massive wildfire in northern Gyeongbuk through a video briefing.
This briefing was arranged to share the current wildfire damage status and the progress of the damage assessment with residents, as the remaining fires from the wildfire that began in Uiseong on the 22nd of last month have been extinguished and the region has now shifted to a fire watch system.
Through the briefing, Governor Lee stated, "Although the damage caused by this unprecedented, massive wildfire is immense, we are making every effort to conduct a rapid damage assessment for swift recovery and to help residents return to their daily lives." He added, "We have deployed over 1,200 personnel for the wildfire damage assessment."
Additionally, since the 27th of last month, a total of 46 personnel dispatched from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, National Tax Service, and other central government agencies and related organizations, led by the head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, have been operating the 'Central Joint Support Center for Wildfire Damage' at Andong Gymnasium. Until the recovery is complete, they will provide integrated support for civil complaints, loans, taxes, pension consultations, and other assistance for affected residents.
Furthermore, from the 1st to the 3rd of this month, a preliminary survey of the wildfire-affected areas has been conducted under the leadership of the head of the Social Disaster Strategy Support Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, estimating the volume and value of damage to private and public facilities. Going forward, a joint central disaster damage assessment will be conducted, and a recovery plan will be reviewed and finalized.
As of the 2nd, the comprehensive status of the wildfire damage assessment shows that damage assessments for roads, cultural assets, sports facilities, and religious facilities have been completed. The assessment rates are approximately 70% for housing, 86% for crops, and 98% for livestock, while for forests, which cover a large area, the rate is about 30%.
The estimated damage amount is currently about 800 billion KRW, and it is expected to exceed 1 trillion KRW in the final tally.
In the briefing, Governor Lee also emphasized key projects to be proposed to the government and the National Assembly for supplementary budgets, alongside the damage assessment.
Governor Lee said, "Above all, what is most important is the prompt administrative procedures for recovery based on the damage assessment," and requested, "Please simplify the administrative process so that the period from assessment to confirmation of the recovery plan, which usually takes 60 to 90 days, can be shortened to within one month for rapid recovery."
Additionally, Governor Lee requested the supply of emergency temporary housing for affected residents, stating, "Modular homes should be provided for one year as temporary housing until permanent housing is ready, to secure construction time and encourage the formation of new villages." He added, "The modular temporary homes used should be utilized as mobile hotels during normal times and be available for emergency use as temporary housing during disasters, so support from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is needed."
He also stressed the need to prepare a 'Special Act for the Recovery of Damage and Regional Reconstruction from the Massive Wildfire in Gyeongbuk' to support residents, aid recovery, improve disaster response systems, and promote regional reconstruction.
Through the special act, Governor Lee said, "It is essential to address blind spots in recovery, prevent regional extinction, establish a basis for expanding large-scale wildfire response equipment and infrastructure, and delegate efficient wildfire response authority to the field." He emphasized, "The special act must be enacted as soon as possible to prevent regional extinction, enable effective wildfire response, and revitalize the local economy."
He further stated, "In this supplementary budget, funds for preventive maintenance projects for recovery and regional economic reconstruction, as well as for improving wildfire response systems, must be secured." He added, "I will strongly advocate for the allocation of funds for the latest wildfire suppression equipment, the advancement of response systems, and special support for economic revitalization in affected areas."
Finally, Governor Lee said, "We will remember the tragic sacrifices and damage caused by this massive wildfire and actively establish measures to prevent recurrence and improve our response." He concluded, "We will take this as an opportunity for 'Jeonhwauibok' (turning misfortune into blessing) by newly developing our mountains, farmland, and seas to pass on better resources to future generations."
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