Geoje and Tongyeong focus on flood recovery and water restoration

Following record-breaking heavy rainfall between July 15 and 18, the South Korean government has transitioned from emergency response to a recovery support system for the Geoje and Tongyeong regions in Gyeongsangnam-do. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has activated a recovery support headquarters to assist with repairing damaged public and private infrastructure, including roads, rivers, and water systems.

Severe flooding caused significant damage, including landslides and the destruction of water pipelines. In Tongyeong, the damage to a main pipeline in Geoje led to widespread water outages. While most island areas have seen service restored, Bijindo remains without running water after several days, forcing residents to rely on emergency bottled water supplies provided by the city and the Korea Water Resources Corporation.

As recovery efforts continue, authorities are facing a secondary challenge: rising temperatures. The government has strengthened heatwave countermeasures to protect recovery workers and displaced residents. Measures include providing shaded rest areas, drinking water, and cooling supplies at temporary shelters to prevent heat-related illnesses during outdoor cleanup operations.