By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
The government will offer subsidies to residents in six areas in South Chungcheong Province hit by an oil spill by declaring the region a ``special disaster area,'' Tuesday.
The designated areas are Taean, Seosan, Dangjin, Hongseong, Boryeong and Seocheon.
President Roh Moo-hyun visited Taean, which suffered a direct hit from the oil spill, and consoled residents there. He promised financial support, including initial funds of 6.9 billion won.
At a Cabinet meeting held before his visit to Taean, Roh and his ministers approved the bill to declare the region a special disaster area.
The declaration came as thousands of local residents, soldiers and police struggled for a fifth consecutive day to clean up the leaked oil.
Roh told ministers and presidential secretaries to come up with measures to minimize damage and clear the crude oil as soon as possible.
``Considering the seriousness of the oil-devastated region, the President decided to visit there canceling his schedule in the afternoon,'' Roh's spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said.
Cheon said the aid or compensation will not be provided for individual victims, adding, ``It will be offered in the form of broad, financial support to the region.''
He said the government is also considering asking help from other countries. On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Seoul will accept a U.S. offer to help in the clean-up operation.
Officials said the total amount of support funds will be set after calculating the exact damage.
Affected residents will be offered tax reductions and will be allowed to delay premium payments for their national insurance and pensions, they said.
More than 10,000 tons of crude oil leaked after a Samsung barge carrying a crane rammed into a stationary 146,000-ton tanker Friday. The oil spill, the worst in the country's history, is about twice the size of the leak of 5,035 tons on the southern coast in 1995.
Oil has spread to an area spanning more than 50 kilometers to the south and 20 kilometers to the north of the scene of the spill, according to maritime police. Forty kilometers of coastline have been contaminated.
Crude oil from the damaged tanker has turned sandy beaches on the western coasts, which are popular tourist destinations, black.
To prevent the oil slick from spreading to the northern and southern tips of the Taean Peninsula by strong winds and tides, the government increased the number of soldiers, policemen and civilians working on the clean-up to 13,000 from about 9,000.
Local government and residents in the affected area will be eligible for state subsidies and compensation.
Among other things, the residents will be entitled to more than double the amount of financial assistance normally provided by the government to victims of natural disasters, while the affected local governments will receive 20-30 percent more than normal in subsidies.
The area will also be provided with manpower and equipment to help in recovery efforts, as well as tax cuts and medical and quarantine services.