South Korea is bracing for the imminent arrival of Typhoon Khanun, a tropical storm with winds potentially reaching up to 154 kilometers per hour, which poses a serious threat to the ongoing World Scout Jamboree in the southwestern county of Buan.
With tens of thousands of scouts from 156 countries gathered for this global event, authorities are taking decisive action to evacuate participants from the coastal campsite and ensure their safety.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement has urgently called on South Korea to provide the necessary resources and support during this evacuation process.
Mass Evacuation Efforts Underway for World Scout Jamboree
An approaching typhoon has prompted a large international scout meeting in South Korea to leave their camping grounds prematurely.
This comes just days after intense heat waves caused illness in numerous adolescents and led to criticisms regarding the event's management.
According to CNN, originally, the event was planned to showcase outdoor adventures, cultural displays, sustainability seminars, and various activities for the predominantly middle and high school attendees.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) announced that they had been informed by the South Korean Government of the need for an early exit for all attendees at the 25th World Scout Jamboree, due to the anticipated effects of Typhoon Khanun.
CNN's weather experts predict that the typhoon will strike South Korea by Thursday, bringing with it as much as 150 millimeters (approximately 6 inches) of rain.
South Korea is set to deploy around a thousand buses to facilitate the evacuation of approximately 36,000 scouts from the World Scout Jamboree site.
The country's Ministry of the Interior and Safety has announced that the evacuation process will begin on Tuesday morning.
The scouts, representing a diverse array of nations, will be relocated to various venues in the capital city of Seoul and the nearby metropolitan area.
Officials are working to secure adequate spaces at government training centers and educational facilities to accommodate the large number of participants.
Most scouts are teenagers hailing from 156 nations who gathered at the jamboree site, situated on reclaimed land from the sea.
The United Kingdom constituted the most substantial national group, contributing approximately 4,500 scouts, while the United States sent around 1,000 participants to the global event.
Urgent Appeal by World Scout Organization
In response to the looming threat of Typhoon Khanun, NBC News reported that The World Organization of the Scout Movement has issued an urgent appeal to South Korea to expedite the evacuation process and ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.
The organization calls for the provision of essential resources and support throughout the scouts' stay in South Korea until they can safely return to their home countries.
The swift and efficient evacuation plan is critical to safeguarding the scouts from the approaching storm.
The ongoing World Scout Jamboree has already faced challenges even before the typhoon's approach.
Hot temperatures forced the early departure of numerous British and American scouts, and hundreds of participants have been treated for heat-related ailments.
Critics have previously expressed concerns about holding the jamboree in a vast, treeless area that lacks adequate protection from the summer heat.
Now, with the additional threat of Typhoon Khanun, organizers are working diligently to ensure the safety of all scouts, coordinating the evacuation of over 340 venues in regions near Buan.
Typhoon Khanun's Impact on Japan
As per the BBC, prior to its approach towards South Korea, Typhoon Khanun had taken an unusual and meandering path around Japan's southwestern islands, causing widespread disruptions and damage.
With the evacuation plan underway, tens of thousands of scouts from around the world will be relocated to safe venues in Seoul and nearby areas.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement has appealed for crucial support during this process.
Meanwhile, Japan continues to grapple with the impacts of the typhoon, with warnings of mudslides and strong winds in affected regions.
The safety and well-being of all scouts remain the top priority during this critical weather event.
