Chungnam Province Requests Government to Declare Four Cities and Counties Along Geumgang River as 'Special Disaster Areas'

"As the damage caused by the release of water from Daecheong Dam was significant, we request the declaration of a special disaster area for the four cities and counties along the Geum River."

On the 16th, Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, asked Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who visited the collapsed embankment site of Nonsancheon, to declare a special disaster area for Nonsan, Gongju, Cheongyang, and Buyeo.

Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province (first on the right), is explaining the status of damage restoration to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who visited the collapsed embankment site of Nonsancheon on the 16th, while requesting the declaration of special disaster zones for Nonsan, Gongju, Cheongyang, and Buyeo. Provided by Chungnam Province

The Nonsancheon embankment is a levee with a width of 50m and a height of 11.5m located in the Wonbong-ri area of Seongdong-myeon. On the morning of the 16th, at around 5:43 AM, a collapse was reported.

Immediately after the collapse, water from Nonsancheon flowed into the embankment area, causing 206 residents to evacuate to Wonbong Elementary School and Seongdong Elementary School, and flooding 75 hectares of farmland including rice paddies and watermelons.

Governor Kim and Prime Minister Han visited the collapsed embankment site of Nonsancheon to inspect the emergency restoration situation and comfort the disaster victims while touring Wonbong Elementary School and Seongdong Elementary School.

Governor Kim explained the damage situation and the progress of emergency restoration due to the embankment collapse to Prime Minister Han, and requested the declaration of a special disaster area for the four cities and counties along the Geum River, including Nonsan.

Governor Kim emphasized the necessity of declaring these cities and counties as special disaster areas by appealing that "as Daecheong Dam released water into the Geum River, the tributary waters could not flow into the main stream of the Geum River, causing greater damage to the cities and counties such as Nonsan, Gongju, Cheongyang, and Buyeo."

Special disaster areas receive national funding support depending on the extent of damage such as total destruction, loss, partial damage, or flooding of houses. Additionally, tenant deposit guarantees and rent are also supported by national funds.

Furthermore, national funding support is available for the restoration of public facilities, farmland, and damage to agricultural and forestry facilities, along with indirect support such as reductions in health insurance premiums and communication fees.

Meanwhile, the average rainfall in Chungnam from the 13th to the 15th was recorded at 463.2mm. During this period, Chungnam received reports of approximately 845 damages, including 58 road incidents, 10 river and stream incidents, 47 house floodings, and damage to 17 livestock farms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.