25th World Scout Jamboree’s participants in Buan hit by heat exhaustion, 400 cases reported on night 1

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea has been marred by the scorching heat, with hundreds of participants suffering from heat exhaustion. On the first night of the event, about 400 cases were reported, and many were treated at a makeshift hospital at the campsite. The temperatures in North Jeolla province, where the jamboree is taking place, have soared to 35°C (95°F) amid a heatwave warning. Scouts from countries like the US, Bangladesh, and the UK have been affected, with the UK contingent being the largest with around 4,500 participants out of the total 43,000 in attendance. The UK Foreign Office stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and have consular officials on-site to support the attendees. They are in regular contact with Scouts UK and the relevant Korean authorities to ensure the safety of British nationals. A fire service official revealed that most of the scouts who required medical attention had mild symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea, and they have mostly returned to their campsites.

The World Scout Jamboree, considered one of the world's largest youth camps, commenced on Tuesday. Although the participants are typically aged between 14 and 18, the event also draws many adults, including Bear Grylls, the UK's Chief Scout. With the extreme heat posing challenges to the event, South Korea's interior minister, Lee Sang-min, urged the jamboree organizers to adjust their programs based on the number and severity of heat-related cases. Choi Chang-haeng, secretary general of the organizing committee, stated that 39 people were still under medical treatment, and additional medical personnel have been deployed at the event. Cooling devices were also