'Safest thing to do': Irish scouts in South Korea 'relieved' at decision to relocate due to storm
Tents pitched at a scout camping site during the World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea. Picture: Choe Young-soo/Yonhap via AP
South Korea evacuating tens of thousands of scouts — including 144 from Ireland — from a coastal jamboree site as Tropical Storm Khanun looms, officials said.
The World Organisation of the Scout Movement said it received confirmation from South Korea’s government of the early departure for all participants in the south-western county of Buan.
That means quickly moving tens of thousands of scouts — mostly teenagers — from 158 countries out of the storm’s path.
South Korea’s weather agency reported that Khanun was about 205 miles north-east of the Japanese island of Okinawa as of 9am local time on Monday. It was expected to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday morning, packing high winds.
Large swathes of the country’s south, including Buan, could be affected by the storm as early as Wednesday, the agency said.
Scouting Ireland said there are 144 scouts and 78 adults from Ireland attending the Jamboree, and they are preparing to leave the site.
"We expect that they will leave the site on Tuesday for other accommodation," said a statement.
"The Korean Government and its agencies are managing the site closure to ensure everyone is moved safely and calmly."
Chief scout Jill Pitcher Farrell said Irish participants are “relieved” at the decision to relocate.
“We think it's in the best interest of all the participants and the staff here. It's the safest thing to do and that there will be adequate time to get everyone off the site before any of the bad weather hits,” she said.
Although unsure of the exact location where they will be moved to, she said they have been given indications that participants will be moved to a variety of indoor accommodations in Seoul.
The Irish contingent will be staying together as they undertake the 3-hour bus journey to the country’s capital.
Ms Pitcher Farrell said the mood among Irish scouts and staff is “still very positive”.
She said there are currently no plans for Irish participants to fly home earlier than scheduled and will not be returning home for more than a week, as planned.
“We'll be staying on until Saturday doing potentially some activities, which will be arranged by the Korean government and the jamboree organising committee,” she said before adding that they will return near to the current site for a five-day long post-camp.
Despite scouts from other countries being relocated last week due to intense heat, including those from the UK and the US, Ms Pitcher Farrell said it was the right decision to remain.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, she said: “It was hot, there's no denying that fact but I think a lot of our youth members had a really, really good time. They really enjoyed the jamboree atmosphere they got to enjoy the international experience in the program.
“Although we do think it's the best decision now with the incoming tropical storm to leave, we're glad we stayed for the last couple of days.”
Ms Pitcher Farrell said parents in Ireland have received nearly daily updates since the heatwave began while a home contact has been in place who has dealt with any concerns.
She said all of those who were ill have now recovered and are “in good spirits”.
Meanwhile, South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said he called for “contingency” plans, which could include relocating the scouts to hotels and other facilities in the country’s capital, Seoul, and nearby metropolitan areas.
Hot temperatures have already forced thousands of scouts to leave the site, which is made on land reclaimed from sea. Hundreds of participants had been treated for heat-related ailments since the jamboree started on Wednesday.
Long before the event’s start, critics raised concerns about bringing such large numbers of young people to a vast, treeless area lacking protection from the summer heat.
Organisers are scurrying to come up with plans to evacuate the scouts ahead of the storm’s arrival.
Choi Chang-haeng, secretary-general of the jamboree’s organising committee, said officials have secured more than 340 evacuation venues, including community centres and gyms, in regions near Buan.
About 40,000 scouts from 158 countries came to the jamboree, built on land reclaimed from the sea.
About 4,500 were from the UK, representing the largest national contingent, while about 1,000 were from the United States.
