Ansung City Petitions for Special Disaster Zone Declaration Due to Heavy Snowfall Damage

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Ansung City announced on the 5th that it has petitioned the government to declare a special disaster zone to enable swift recovery and support for heavy snowfall damage in the city.

The city recorded an average snowfall depth of 60.53 centimeters from the massive snowstorm that fell from the 27th to the 28th of last month. As of the 5th, 18 public facilities and 4,131 private facilities have suffered extensive damage, with estimated total damage reaching 95 billion won.

The declaration of a special disaster zone varies depending on the financial capacity index of each local government. In the case of Ansung City, the damage far exceeds the declaration threshold of 12.25 billion won, meeting the requirements for the declaration.

In particular, the heavy snowfall has inflicted concentrated damage on agricultural facilities including vinyl greenhouses, grape rain covers, and ginseng cultivation facilities, as well as livestock facilities raising cattle and pigs, causing great hardship to farmers' livelihoods and daily lives.

As continuous reports and investigations related to snowfall damage continue, additional damage is increasing, and the total damage is expected to grow further.

Mayor Kim Bo-ra stated, "Due to the unprecedented heavy snowfall, damage has occurred throughout the city, and we are making every effort in recovery operations. However, the situation exceeds the city's financial and administrative capacity. National support is more essential than ever to swiftly address the snowfall damage and help citizens return to their daily lives quickly."

She added, "Since many residents are facing great hardship in their lives due to this heavy snowfall, we will make every effort to ensure the disaster zone declaration is made as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, if declared a special disaster zone, the city will receive additional national treasury support for part of its recovery costs and can receive 15 additional items of support including reduced health insurance premiums and discounts on telecommunications and electricity bills.