Haenam-gun Mobilizes All Available Personnel to Accelerate Flood Damage Recovery

Published 13 Jul.2021 15:00(KST)

Most Residential Flood Relief Completed, Emergency Restoration of Public Facilities Underway

Restoration work is underway on the farm road in Yeondang Village, Hwangsan-myeon, Haenam-gun. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam County, Jeollanam-do is accelerating recovery efforts from damage caused by heavy rains during the monsoon season.

According to the county on the 13th, as of the 12th, a total of 273 cases of damage to public facilities amounting to about 15.3 billion KRW were reported, including 98 sites of river and embankment erosion, 45 sites of irrigation and drainage channels, and 21 sites of road damage.

Additionally, 5,335 hectares of farmland, including 5,275 hectares of rice paddies, were flooded, and 450,000 square meters of farmland were lost or buried. Private sector damages in fisheries-related fields also occurred, including 83 livestock farms flooded or damaged, 8 inland aquaculture farms, as well as 22 cases including seaweed processing plants and salt fields flooded.

Furthermore, on the early morning of the 6th, a 69-year-old woman died after her house near Daheungsa Temple in Samsan-myeon was flooded. Water supply was cut off to 240 households in 5 villages, 125 houses were flooded, and about 50 displaced persons were reported.

Since the afternoon of the 6th, recovery work has been in full swing with 848 heavy equipment units such as excavators and dump trucks mobilized to carry out emergency repairs to prevent secondary damage to public facilities like embankments and roads.

All 21 damaged roads affected by soil runoff and destruction were fully restored by last week. As of the afternoon of the 12th, recovery rates for damaged areas include 69 sites of river erosion, 45 irrigation and drainage channels, and 103 km of farm roads, with small rivers at 5.5 km restored by 26%, local rivers at 4.4 km by 47%, and irrigation channels and farm roads at 43 km by 42%.

For the 125 houses flooded, over 20 local social organizations, military units, related agencies, and town and township staff have been fully mobilized to assist with household cleanup and disinfection. Recovery support has been completed for 121 houses so far, showing rapid progress.

With most drainage completed, efforts are also underway to assist with farmland recovery, including removal of flood-damaged crops and maintenance of greenhouse facilities. Since the 12th, aerial pest control using drones and unmanned helicopters has been conducted over approximately 5,200 hectares of rice paddies affected by flooding and waterlogging.

In particular, the county has entered an emergency duty system for public officials, with about 780 employees working over the weekend to visit affected farms and provide public support. So far, a total of about 1,725 personnel have been mobilized for recovery, including 968 public officials, 662 civilian volunteers, and 95 military personnel.

From the 12th to the 14th, all employees will be on emergency duty to provide additional manpower support to households facing labor shortages.

In the flood-affected areas, intensive disinfection is being conducted to prevent infectious diseases, and psychological counseling services are being provided to affected residents through outreach programs.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, “All town and township employees in Haenam County are directly visiting affected residents, compiling damage lists by sector, and managing overall recovery to promote swift and efficient restoration. We are mobilizing all county government resources with the determination to promptly complete emergency repairs, including immediate public service by staff where needed.”