Safety concerns mount for scout gathering amid South Korea heatwave


  • World
  • Thursday, 03 Aug 2023

Participants for the 25th World Scout Jamboree gather at a water supply zone of a camping site in Buan, South Korea, August 1, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's interior minister urged on Thursday organisers of a global scout jamboree to take "all available measures" to ensure the safety of the event after more than 400 participants suffered heat-exhaustion amid scorching temperatures.

The 25th World Scout Jamboree kicked off on Tuesday as authorities issued the highest-level warning for extreme temperatures for the first time in four years.

"Most of them were experiencing mild symptoms, such as headache, dizziness and nausea and all returned to their camp sites," a Jeonbuk Fire Service official said, referring to the scouts.

Parts of South Korea have been roasting in temperatures over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) this week, and the heat has killed at least 16 people, according to official data.

Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min has ordered more ambulances, shuttle buses and air conditioners to remain on standby to ensure the safety of the scouts, his office said.

About 43,000 scouts from around the world are expected to take part in the jamboree, scheduled to run to Aug. 12. The event is being held in a massive sea reclamation project in the western county of Buan, and the opening ceremony was attended by President Yoon Suk Yeol and British TV adventurer Bear Grylls.

The organising committee for the global scout jamboree was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; editing by Miral Fahmy)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Colombia to buy Saab fighter aircraft, Swedish public radio reports
Nigeria court frees 119 protesters after government drops charges
Greek court detains man pending trial over Athens apartment blast
Greece mulls migrant facility on Rhodes to tackle rise in arrivals
German liberals bat away Greens' peace offering on coalition
Spain earmarks 10.6 billion euros in loans, grants to flood victims
Polls open in US as millions prepare to vote
Bluetongue virus threatens Sardinia's historic sheep farming industry
G7 and allies warn Russia over use of North Korean troops in Ukraine
Russian missile kills six, injures 20 in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia

Others Also Read