Emergency recovery efforts in Geoje and Tongyeong, which suffered significant damage from record rainfall, are gaining momentum.
Gyeongnam Province has mobilized 7,301 personnel, including public officials, military, police, firefighters, and volunteers, along with 1,109 pieces of equipment to restore infrastructure such as roads and water supply systems. The goal is to complete the restoration of public water facilities by the end of today. However, approximately 2,000 households remain without water due to damage to electrical and drainage systems in private facilities, including flooded officetels and apartment buildings, indicating that full restoration may take additional time.
According to Gyeongnam Province, the heavy rainfall occurred from August 15 to 18 along the southern coast, with cumulative precipitation reaching 671 mm in Geoje, 550 mm in Tongyeong, and 396 mm in Goseong. The area of Hadun in Geoje recorded an astonishing 954 mm of rain, while Tongyeong and Goseong also experienced record rainfall of 776 mm and 509 mm, respectively.
The torrential rain caused road washouts, landslides, and power outages, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The emergency repair rate for roads has reached 92% in Geoje and 90% in Tongyeong, with power restoration in Tongyeong now complete. In Geoje, recovery efforts are ongoing in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation.
Water supply restoration is nearing completion. Gyeongnam Province reports that of the 27 damaged water supply sections in Geoje and Tongyeong, 19 sections are now supplying water to approximately 5,700 households. Some sections are still undergoing repairs, with a target of 100% restoration of public water facilities by the end of today.
However, the restoration of water supply facilities does not guarantee immediate access to water for all households. In particular, some officetels and apartment buildings in Geoje have suffered damage to their electrical and drainage systems due to flooding in basements. With power cut off, water supply pumps are inoperable, leading to situations where residents cannot receive water despite the water supply lines being intact.
A Gyeongnam Province official stated, "We aim to complete the restoration of public facilities today. However, private facilities that have experienced flooding, such as officetels and apartment buildings, need to conduct their own drainage work and restore electrical systems, which may require additional time for normal water supply to resume."
Currently, it is estimated that around 2,000 households in Geoje are without water due to damage to private facilities. The extent of damage and the status of drainage work vary by building, making it difficult to determine a uniform timeline for restoration. Gyeongnam Province and Geoje City are providing emergency water supply support, including bottled water and water trucks, to affected buildings.
Concerns about the safety of tap water among residents are also being addressed. Gyeongnam Province conducts daily water quality tests during the purification process, and households can request separate water quality tests from local authorities if they have concerns about their tap water.
Gyeongnam Province is informing affected residents about recovery progress and the timeline for resuming water supply through media and local government websites, while announcements are being made in apartments and villages regarding the schedule for resuming supply.
This heavy rainfall has highlighted the need for inspections and maintenance of vulnerable water supply facilities. Gyeongnam Province conducts annual maintenance projects for aging pipelines and plans to explore measures to enhance disaster response capabilities for facilities likely to experience repeated damage in the future.
Support for affected residents continues. In Geoje and Tongyeong, 645 households with 1,199 individuals have evacuated, with 274 households and 419 individuals having returned home. Currently, 371 households with 780 individuals remain in temporary shelters. Gyeongnam Province is providing temporary housing, meals, essential supplies, mobile shower units, and disaster recovery programs.
On August 19, Gyeongnam Province urgently allocated 1 billion won in disaster management funds and 2 billion won in special disaster grants to Geoje and Tongyeong. Additionally, 700 million won in disaster relief funds has been provided to support the recovery and stabilization of affected residents.
Furthermore, on August 18, the province requested the government to declare a special disaster area and provide 3 billion won in special grants, actively responding to preliminary investigations by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to confirm the requirements for special disaster areas.
A Gyeongnam Province official stated, "We are mobilizing all available personnel and equipment to expedite recovery efforts so that residents can return to their daily lives as soon as possible. We will provide maximum support, including emergency water supply, to residents experiencing inconvenience due to damage to private facilities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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