Maldivian scouts participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, South Korea, have been relocated to safer grounds before the expected landfall of Typhoon Khanun on Thursday.
The 200 strong contingent is part of the 36-thousand scouts from 156 countries who are participating in the quadrennial event that had already been plagued by a scorching heat wave.
According to the Scout Association of Maldives, all scouts are relocated to Seoul, and the process of relocation has been running smoothly. “God-willing, all scouts are in good health, and are in no danger”, assured Chief Commissioner Mohamed Maaidh Zahir.
The jamboree organising committee is working with emergency authorities in South Korea to relocate all participants from the Saemangeum campgrounds to eight locations in Seoul, Gyeonggi, North Jeolla, North and South Chungcheong.
The Korean government has secured accommodation at 66 locations in Gyeonggi, 18 in South Chungcheong, 17 in Seoul, eight in Incheon, seven in North Chungcheong and six in Daejeon.
World Scout Jamboree organisers have been continuing with the activities despite early pull-outs by the UK, U.S., Belgian and Singaporean contingents due to the scorching weather.
Over 400 heat-related illnesses were reported on the first day of the jamboree. The organising committee last week said that 807 attendees complained of symptoms through Tuesday, of whom over 400 were confirmed as patients with heat-related illnesses.
The activities will resume in the different locations and will continue till 12 August 2023.
