World Scout Jamboree participants fall ill due to the heat

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World Scout Jamboree participants fall ill due to the heat

Published: 01 Aug. 2023, 19:18 Updated: 03 Aug. 2023, 11:16

A participant of the 25th World Scout Jamboree held at Saemangeum in Buan County, North Jeolla, quenches his thirst on Tuesday as nationwide temperatures reached 32 to 36 degrees Celsius (90 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit). [YONHAP]

At least 21 people participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree held in Buan County, North Jeolla, this month have come down with heat-related illnesses as the international youth camp kicked off on Tuesday.

North Jeolla’s fire service said in a statement that 11 patients were counted as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and 10 more patients as of 4 p.m. the same day.

Only two were Korean.

The rest were foreigners, from countries including the United States, Britain, Bangladesh, Colombia, Poland and Sweden.

At least two foreigners, one from Britain and the other from Belgium, were said to have passed out.

The 11 patients received medical attention mainly for high fever and dehydration at a makeshift hospital on the campgrounds.

By Tuesday, most have been discharged from the hospital.

The patients were all joining the 25th World Scout Jamboree, known to be the world's largest Scout event that takes place every four years across the world.

This year’s event officially kicked off on Tuesday and is scheduled to last through Aug. 12 at Saemangeum, a vast reclaimed area stretched along the country’s southwest coast.

It’s Korea’s second time hosting the World Scout Jamboree. The first time was in 1991 in Goseong County, Gangwon.

The organizing committee said over 43,000 people have signed up for this year’s Jamboree, about 90 percent of which were from overseas.

The Korean government had hoped the Jamboree would bring the country into the global spotlight. On its first day, it somewhat has, albeit not for the reasons organizers had hoped for.

Tents are pitched on the Jamboree campgrounds. [YONHAP]

The mercury in Buan County hit 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday after reaching 33 degrees the day before.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast the rest of the week to be similarly hot, hinting at major challenges for the Jamboree, which involve many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, raft-building and starting fires.

The organizing committee said Tuesday that it installed shelters around the area to provide protection from the heat, including 1,720 shaded resting areas and 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) of pedestrian paths equipped with sprinklers to lower the temperature.

To prevent dehydration, participants were said to be offered bottled water, beverages and salt.

Sporadic showers are another predicament. On Monday, rains of 32 millimeters (1.3 inches) per hour fell on Buan County, flooding some outdoor campsites.

Choi Chang-haeng, secretary general of the organizing committee, brushed off accusations they were unprepared, saying they had expected the heat.

“Contrary to public concerns, participants within the campgrounds have stronger mental strength than people think,” said Choi. “Unlike other ordinary teens, these participants have more than two years of scouting experience, which makes them familiar with camping life.”

BY LEE SUNG-EUN, KIM JUN-HEE [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]