Seoul, Aug 4 (AFP\/APP): 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.<\/p>\n
The Korean peninsula is currently in the midst of a heatwave, with average daily temperatures hovering around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and the government issuing its highest-possible heat warning as temperatures soar.<\/p>\n
About 43,000 people from across the world are currently taking part in the World Scout Jamboree — known as the world’s largest youth camp — which is taking place in Korea’s North Jeolla province.<\/p>\n
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 Thursday.<\/p>\n
Local media outlets have described the situation as a “national disgrace”, given the time the country had to prepare for the event.<\/p>\n
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered an unlimited number of air-conditioned buses that scouts can use for brief refuge and refrigerator trucks to provide cold water, presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said Friday.<\/p>\n
Yoon’s office added that the emergency meeting would make a decision “regarding the allocation of approximately 6 billion won ($4.59 million) in contingency funds”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Local broadcasters reported some scouts were “stuck” at the remote campsite despite the heat, citing anonymous staff members.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard to even arrange bus rides on your own,” one staffer said.
\nSome people online compared the situation to the deadly survival game featured in South Korea’s mega-hit Netflix series “Squid Game”.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
World Scouting acknowledged on Friday that an “extreme heatwave and humidity” has caused “some challenging conditions” for young people at the event.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seoul, Aug 4 (AFP\/APP): 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 currently in the midst of […]<\/p>\n
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