Geoje and parts of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province were designated special disaster zones Friday as recovery work continues following days of heavy rain.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the designation covers all of Geoje and Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong in Tongyeong, following presidential approval.The designation allows the central government to cover a larger share of local recovery costs, including repairs to roads, rivers and other damaged infrastructure.Geoje was designated citywide after authorities determined damage would exceed the 10.25 billion won ($7.4 million) threshold. Tongyeong did not meet the threshold for a citywide designation in a preliminary assessment, but Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong each exceeded the lower 1.025 billion won threshold applied at the township and neighborhood level.Authorities said additional affected areas could be designated after further damage assessments.The region was battered by record rainfall from Aug. 15 to 17, with Geoje receiving 954.8 millimeters and Tongyeong 763 millimeters. The downpours triggered landslides and widespread flooding of homes and roads, forcing residents to evacuate, while a landslide in Geoje left one person dead. Navy personnel carry out flood recovery work in Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. (Newsis) Navy personnel carry out flood recovery work in Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. (Newsis Mud and debris swept down by heavy rain remain behind an apartment complex in Okpo-dong, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. (Yonhap) Volunteers clear water-damaged goods and debris from flooded shops in Okpo-dong, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. (Yonhap) Volunteer firefighters carry out flood recovery work in Seonchang Village, Irun-myeon, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. (Yonhap)