tens of thousands of participants
First heat wave, now typhoon: world meeting of scouts in South Korea must end early
British Scouts leave the World Scout Jamboree camp. South Korea is preparing to evacuate the world’s largest scout camp due to an approaching tropical storm.
© Choe Young-soo/Yonhap/AP / DPA
The world’s largest scout camp in South Korea was ill-fated: First the participants suffered from high temperatures, then a typhoon was approaching. The camp is now to be cleared.
South Korea is preparing to evacuate the world’s largest Boy Scout camp, home to tens of thousands of youth, due to an approaching tropical storm. The World Organization of the Scout Movement said on Monday that they had been informed by the government that an early departure of all participants was planned because of the feared effects of Typhoon Khanun. The World Scout Jamboree on the west coast South Korea’s was originally scheduled to last until August 12.
The world association called on the government to support the scouts to the best of their ability until they return to their home countries. Alternative accommodation should be made available for children and young people who are unable to do this so quickly. As a spokeswoman for South Korea’s presidential office said, there are discussions about bringing the participants to the region around the capital Seoul.
600 people with heat stroke at scout meeting in South Korea
The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Monday, citing the government, that the clearing of the boy scout camp should begin on Tuesday morning. More than 1000 buses are to be used for this purpose.
An ongoing heat wave in South Korea had plagued the Scout meeting in Saemangeum since it began on August 1st. Around 600 of the participants suffered from heat stroke. The world association had therefore spoken out in favor of an early termination at the end of last week. However, most state associations – including the German contingent, which claims to have 2,200 scouts – decided to stay. However, thousands of participants from Great Britain, the USA and Singapore left the camp.
According to the South Korean Weather Bureau, the powerful typhoon is currently moving north towards the Korean Peninsula and could make landfall in the southeast on Thursday. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected.
The camp, for which more than 43,000 Girl Scouts from 158 countries had registered, takes place on an area reclaimed from the sea. Saemangeum offers no natural shade for the participants, who are accommodated in more than 20,000 tents. The World Scout Meeting takes place every four years.
Sources: News agencies DPA, AFP and Yonhap