President Yoon declares five disaster areas after recent torrential rains

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared five regions that suffered losses and damages in recent torrential rains as special disaster zones on Monday.

Volunteer workers clear a farm on Saturday in Nonsan, South Chungcheong after record-breaking heavy rain damaged the area last week. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared five regions that suffered losses and damages in recent torrential rains as special disaster zones on Monday.

Yeongdong County in North Chungcheong, the city of Nonsan and Seocheon County in South Chungcheong, Wanju County in North Jeolla, and Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang were designated special disaster zones by the presidential office.

Preliminary damage surveys have been completed in the designated areas, Kim Soo-kyung, a spokesperson for the presidential office, said in a written briefing.

The government is considering declaring additional special disaster areas by the end of the month after conducting joint surveys in other areas, he added.

“I am heartbroken by the unfortunate damage caused by record-breaking heavy rain in these regions,” Yoon said in a statement. “As the monsoon front moves north again this week, there is concern that additional damage may occur, and prompt emergency restoration and damage surveys must be conducted in affected areas.”

Yoon urged related agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to “make every effort to prepare in advance in other regions as well.”

Designating an area as a special disaster zone makes it eligible for government financial support for recovery work, relief funds for victims and other benefits.

Heavy monsoon rain battered many regions and resulted in six people dead and two missing last week, according to government authorities. Downpours flooded 9,522 hectares (23,529 acres) of crops between July 7 and last Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Thousands also evacuated their homes in southern regions due to the record-breaking rain.

Yoon similarly issued an emergency order last week after receiving briefings on the impact of heavy downpours and instructed related ministries to exert all efforts to immediately and effectively respond to the damage.

Rain forecasts were issued nationwide on Monday, with intense rains of 30 to 50 millimeters an hour expected in northern regions and Jeju Island.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]