The 25th World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea, has been plagued by heat exhaustion, affecting hundreds of participants. On the first night of the event, around 400 cases of heat
exhaustion were reported, prompting immediate medical attention at a makeshift hospital on the campsite. The scorching temperatures, reaching 35°C (95°F) in North Jeolla province, where the event is taking place, have triggered a heatwave warning.
Scouts from various countries, including the US, Bangladesh, and the UK, have been affected, with the UK contingent expected to be the largest, comprising about 4,500 of the 43,000 attendees. The situation is being closely monitored by the UK Foreign Office, which has consular officials on-site to support the participants. The Foreign Office is in constant communication with both Scouts UK and Korean authorities to ensure the safety of British nationals.
According to a fire service official, most of the scouts who required medical attention experienced mild symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Fortunately, many have already returned to their campsites.
The World Scout Jamboree, known as the world's largest youth camp, commenced on Tuesday, bringing together young participants aged 14 to 18 and adults like celebrity survivalist Bear Grylls, the UK's Chief Scout.
Given the number and severity of cases, South Korea's interior minister, Lee Sang-min, has urged the jamboree organizers to adapt their programs accordingly. Choi Chang-haeng, the secretary-general of the event's organizing committee, revealed that 39 individuals were still under medical treatment. To ensure a smooth continuation of the event, additional medical staff has been deployed, and cooling devices have been implemented on-site.
The extreme heat is not unique to the jamboree location, as parts of South Korea have been experiencing an unusually hot summer. The capital, Seoul, issued its highest-level hot weather warning in four years, with temperatures ranging from 33°C to 38°C. The intense heat has reportedly led to at least 16 fatalities across the country, surpassing last year's record of seven deaths during the same period. Photo by Tahmidazuwad, Wikimedia commons.