South Korea evacuates tens of thousands of scouts ahead of typhoon
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[August 08, 2023]
By Hyunsu Yim and Hyonhee Shin
BUAN/SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea on Tuesday evacuated the
majority of teenage scouts from their campsite ahead of an approaching
typhoon, the latest disruption to the World Scout Jamboree which has
been marred by illness and criticism of its organization and facilities.
More than 1,000 buses were being deployed to move the scouts out of the
southwest, a region that Typhoon Khanun is expected to hit as early as
Wednesday.
There were about 36,000 participants at the campsite, near Buan city,
and more than two-thirds have already left, Interior Minister Lee
Sang-min told reporters.
Seoul and its surrounding province of Gyeonggi would host almost half
the scouts, with the rest fanning out to six other areas, Lee said.
Police cars and helicopters will escort the convoys to safety, he added.
South Korean organizers are keen to minimize any further problems at the
jamboree, the first global gathering of scouts since the pandemic. Since
the event began last week, hundreds of participants have fallen ill due
to a heatwave, triggering criticism from the public and parents about a
lack of preparation.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/08/images/ads/current/remington_sda_FAIR_2023.png)
The British scout contingent, the event's biggest, also left early,
citing poor sanitation and food quality, among other concerns. The U.S.
scout group followed.
"This is the first time in more than 100 years of World Scout Jamborees
that we have had to face such compounded challenges," Ahmad Alhendawi,
Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said
in a statement.
At the sprawling campsite, scouts dismantled tents and folded up ground
sheets, before carrying their backpacks to board nearby buses.
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![](../images/080823PIX/news_l21.jpg)
Participants gather under the shade as
they prepare to leave the camping site of the 25th World Scout
Jamboree in Buan, South Korea, August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/08/images/ads/current/atlantabank_quarter_FAIR_2023.png)
Typhoon Khanun, which has already wreaked havoc in southern Japan,
is moving toward South Korea bringing heavy rain and winds of up to
125 kph (78 mph) as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the weather
agency.
Khanun is expected to hit southern regions of South Korea on
Wednesday afternoon before tracking up the peninsula, prompting the
government to raise its typhoon alert to the highest level and close
some roads, mountain trails and beaches.
President Yoon Suk Yeol called for thorough preparations for the
typhoon, warning of further damage especially in areas struck by
last month's torrential rain. He also ordered the scouts to be
evacuated without a glitch.
"We will make every effort to ensure their safety until the end of
the event, so that young people from all over the world can return
home with good memories," Yoon told an emergency meeting held for
the typhoon.
Poland is due to host the next World Scout Jamboree in 2027, but
President Andrzej Duda cancelled plans to attend this year's closing
ceremony due to the typhoon, an official at the Polish Embassy in
Seoul said.
A closing ceremony, to be followed by a K-pop concert, will now be
held on Saturday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the culture
ministry said.
South Korea has successfully hosted several major events including
the summer and winter Olympic Games, as well as jointly hosting the
soccer World Cup with Japan. The port city of Busan is currently
bidding to host the Expo in 2030.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim, Park Ju-min and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and
Hyun Young Yi in Buan; Editing by Ed Davies and Sonali Paul and
Miral Fahmy)
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