The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced on the 2nd that it has confirmed the damage costs from the wildfires that occurred in the North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Ulsan areas in March as 1.0818 trillion won after deliberation by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
The government allocated a total of 1.8889 trillion won for recovery costs in the wildfire-affected areas.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the recent wildfires caused damage to 183 individuals, with 27 fatalities and 156 injuries. Moreover, an area of 104,000 hectares was burned, marking the largest scale since wildfire damage statistics began in 1987.
First, the government will provide relief funds and funeral costs to bereaved families and the injured according to support standards. Compensation will be paid to public officials and firefighters who lost their lives during the wildfire suppression operations in accordance with relevant laws.
For dwellings completely burned down by the wildfires, the plan is to ensure that they receive at least 100 million won in support, including existing support funds, additional support funds, and donations. All demolition and waste disposal expenses will also be fully covered by national funds.
The support unit price for crops and agricultural facilities lost due to the wildfires will be increased. The support price for six crops, including apples, peaches, persimmons, cherries, pears, and garlic, along with eight forest products such as chestnuts, bracken, landscape trees, fern shoots, walnuts, medicinal herbs, deodeok, and astringent persimmons, will be fully realized at actual transaction prices level. The support rate will also be raised from the previous 50% to 100%.
For costs associated with restocking young livestock lost due to animal deaths, the support rate will be increased from about 50% to 100%. The list of agricultural machinery support items will expand from 11 types to all 38 types, with the support rate adjusted from the existing 35% to 50%. The support rate for agricultural and livestock facilities will also rise from the previous 35% to 45%.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to provide disaster response funds to local governments according to the recovery plan announced today, allowing for support funds to be distributed in earnest starting next week.
The Chief of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said, "We will strive to complete the emergency recovery and prevention projects in the wildfire-affected areas before the rainy season to prevent secondary damage from occurring."