Gyeonggi Province Flood Damage Increases Annually

Flood damage in the Gyeonggi region has been increasing annually, with damage and recovery costs rising each year.

According to materials on "flood damage and recovery" submitted to Gyeonggi Provincial Council member Kim Hak-jin by the Gyeonggi Province on the 13th, damage amounts have increased annually over the past three years: from 6.2 billion won in 2004 to 9.5 billion won in 2005, and 57.7 billion won in 2006.

The corresponding recovery costs during the same period also rose sharply to 15.1 billion won, 22.6 billion won, and 150.6 billion won, respectively.

Notably, Anseong sustained 3.1 billion won in damage in 2004 and faced 14.5 billion won in damage this year as well, while Yangpyeong suffered damage of 1.3 billion won, 2 billion won, and 5 billion won over the past three years, indicating that flood damage is recurring in chronically affected areas.

Council member Kim stated, "While flood damage from extreme weather is severe, damage resulting from human factors also accounts for a considerable portion," adding, "In particular, the fact that major damage continues to occur in specific areas is because repairs have been done on a piecemeal basis."