Governemnt Will Declare typhoon-hit Areas as Special Disaster Zones around Sept. 24

The government has decided to designate all areas hard hit by Typhoon Maemi as special disaster zones as early as September 24.

"Considering the designation procedures, including the government`s joint investigations into damage caused by the worst typhoon in a century, the declaration of special disaster zones will be made around September 24", Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said on Tuesday. Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Kim Doo-kwan reported during a cabinet meeting, presided over by President Roh Moo-hyun on the same day, reported that the ministry would make a proposal of the declaration of special disaster areas after finishing joint investigations, which will start September 18, according to the presidential spokesman. After jointly briefed on the typhoon damage and recovery measures by eight ministries, the president asked them to do their best in order to designate areas on which the typhoon wreaked havoc as special disaster areas as early as possible. He also ordered consideration of measures to offer assistance to small-sized stores that suffered losses and implementation of the special budget set aside for recovery from typhoon. Regarding casualties resulted from tidal waves in Masan-si, South Gyeongsang province, he called for thorough analysis of cause and coming up with countermeasures to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com