Spill-affected area to get special relief

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GUMI, South Korea, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- An area around a South Korean city was designated a special disaster zone Monday after an acid leak sickened thousands and caused millions of dollars in damage.

The disaster designation by the national government entitles residents of the affected area to extra financial assistance such as tax cuts and delayed payments of their taxes, insurance and pensions, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The Sept. 27 leak of eight tons of hydrofluoric acid from a chemical plant in the southeastern city of Gumi has so far made more than 3,000 residents ill and forced the evacuations of hundreds of villagers in the area.

More than 520 acres of crops have died, and 3,200 livestock appear sick, officials and residents said. Factories in the area have suffered an estimated $15.9 million in production losses

The initial accident at Hube Globe killed five people and injured 18.

Seoul did not send an inspection team to the area until Friday.

The government said within the next month it will conduct special inspections of companies that deal with dangerous chemicals to prevent similar accidents.

A group of residents say they plan to file a claim for compensation against the chemical firm.