Chungnam Heavy Rain Damage Reaches 366.4 Billion Won... Emergency Restoration to Be Completed This Week

Full-scale Special Support for Homes, Farms, and Small Businesses
Province Mobilizes All Efforts for Special Disaster Zone Designation at Township and Neighborhood Level

Chungnam Province Deputy Governor

Chungnam Province announced that the restoration rate for damages caused by the recent heavy rainfall in the province has reached 79.7%, and emergency recovery is expected to be completed within this week.

According to the provincial government, the total amount of damages has also increased. As of 6:00 p.m. on July 27, the provisional tally stood at 366.4 billion won, which is an increase of 123.4 billion won compared to the figure on July 22 (243 billion won).

Park Jeongju, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Chungnam Province, held a press conference in the briefing room at the provincial government office on July 28 and said, "We are maintaining an emergency system to check the damage situation every morning together with city and county governments and the central government," adding, "We have prioritized the allocation of 7.65 billion won for emergency recovery, and we expect that restoration in most areas will be completed by this weekend."

He continued, "Despite the heatwave, more than 37,000 soldiers from the 32nd Division and volunteers are assisting with the recovery operations," and added, "Two people who suffered from heat-related illnesses have recovered after treatment, and 15 air-conditioned buses have been deployed on site to provide rest for workers."

The province is currently conducting an on-site inspection to declare the area a special disaster zone.

In terms of damages, Yesan County recorded the highest amount at 90.7 billion won, followed by Seosan City (58.9 billion won), Asan City (50 billion won), Dangjin City (43.1 billion won), and Hongseong County (32.6 billion won).

Vice Governor Park stated, "We are strategically consulting with the government, including the designation of disaster areas at the township and neighborhood level."

Regarding the causes of the recent heavy rain damage, Vice Governor Park explained, "Among the 11 national rivers in the province, 4 experienced losses and collapses; among 491 local rivers, more than 120 were affected; and among 2,800 small streams, a large number also suffered damage." He added, "We are discussing with the government the possibility of raising the restoration standard from the 100-year rainfall level to the 200-year level."

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, also announced a special provincial support plan for affected residents at a press conference on July 22.

In addition to government support, Chungnam Province is planning a special support package totaling 16.8 billion won, aiming for implementation in August.

For homes that have been completely destroyed, in addition to the maximum government subsidy of 39.5 million won, the province will provide an additional 80 million won, for a total support amount of up to 119.5 million won.

For partially destroyed homes, up to 60 million won will be provided, and for flooded homes, a total of 6 million won will be given (3.5 million won from the government and 2.5 million won from the province).

In the agricultural sector, compensation will be provided up to 100% regardless of insurance coverage, and in the livestock sector, in addition to the cost of disposing of dead livestock, unsecured special guarantees of up to 200 million won per farm will be offered. The province is also discussing increasing the insurance premium support ratio for cattle farms to 80%.

Small business owners will receive up to 9 million won in support, and additional differentiated payments will be made according to the scale of damages through donations.

Financial support will also be provided: traditional markets can receive loans of up to 300 million won at an ultra-low interest rate of 1.5% per year, and small and medium-sized enterprises can receive loans of up to 1 billion won at a fixed interest rate of 2%.

A total of 1,515 households and 2,391 people were temporarily evacuated, and among them, 221 households and 349 people have not yet returned home. The province is providing relief supplies and meals for these individuals, and plans to provide public rental or prefabricated housing to 81 households whose homes were damaged.

To support mental health recovery, eight psychological recovery centers are in operation, and an integrated support center has been established in Deoksan-myeon, Yesan, to provide one-stop support services.