South Korea orders air-conditioned buses for heat-struck scouts
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Participants take shelter from the strong sunlight at the camping site for the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Busan, on Aug 4.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL - South Korea’s presidential office on Friday called an emergency Cabinet meeting and ordered the deployment of air-conditioned buses and freezer trucks after hundreds of scouts at a massive jamboree suffered heat-related illnesses.
The Korean peninsula is in the midst of a heatwave, with average daily temperatures hovering around 35 deg C and the government issuing its highest-possible heat warning as temperatures soar.
About 43,000 people from across the world are taking part in the World Scout Jamboree – known as the world’s largest youth camp – which is being held in South Korea’s North Jeolla province.
The local authorities and organisers said around 600 participants had suffered heat-related illnesses, prompting Seoul officials to order the deployment of military doctors and nurses on Thursday.
Local media outlets have described the situation as a “national disgrace”, given the time the country had to prepare for the event.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered an unlimited number of air-conditioned buses for the scouts to use for brief refuge and refrigerator trucks to provide cold water, presidential spokesman Kim Eun-hye said on Friday.
Mr Yoon’s office added that the emergency meeting would make a decision “regarding the allocation of approximately six billion won (S$6.1 million) in contingency funds”.
The United States Forces Korea told AFP that about 600 American jamboree participants had been offered the chance to stay at Camp Humphreys, a US army garrison in Pyeongtaek, to avoid the heat.
Local broadcasters reported that some scouts were “stuck” at the remote campsite despite the heat, citing anonymous staff members. “It’s hard to even arrange bus rides on your own,” one worker said.
Some people online compared the situation to the deadly survival game featured in South Korea’s mega-hit Netflix series Squid Game.
“Greetings to Scouts from all around the globe, as you arrive at the K-Survival Game,” one quipped on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, above an image of pink Squid Game-style costumes.
World Scouting acknowledged on Friday that an “extreme heatwave and humidity” had caused “some challenging conditions” for young people at the event.
“We share your concerns and are working closely with the host and government of Korea to ensure a safe, healthy and fun jamboree environment for all,” it wrote on X. AFP
