Central disaster headquarters to provide 3 billion won for rain-hit areas

The interior ministry said Monday it would provide 3 billion won ($2.12 million) in emergency funding for areas hit by record downpours in Gyeongnam.

South Jeolla, Gwangju, Busan and South Gyeongsang will receive the special grant, along with 40 million won ($28,271) in disaster-relief project funding. The money will be used for emergency repairs to damaged public facilities, resident relief and urgent livelihood support.

At a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, officials reviewed rescue and relief operations, emergency restoration of damaged facilities and measures to prevent further damage. They also discussed safety checks at rivers with high water levels and landslide-prone areas.

Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung, head of the disaster headquarters, urged local governments to ensure people in temporary housing receive drinking water, daily necessities and hygiene supplies. "Above all, the most important thing is to ease the suffering of affected residents, even a little, and help them return to their daily lives quickly," he said.

Yoon also called for coordination among relevant ministries to speed repairs to traditional markets, schools, roads, rivers and power facilities. "We will do our best to address the damage by bringing together all government capabilities around the disaster headquarters," he said. "We will support affected residents until they can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."