Four thousand British scouts will leave the World Scout Jamboree and move into hotels after soaring temperatures in South Korea left hundreds of children ill with heat exhaustion.
At least 600 people at the World Scout Jamboree have been treated for heat-related illnesses since Tuesday’s start of the conference in southwestern Buan.
The UK Scouts Association said on Friday its delegation of more than 4,000 scouts and volunteers would leave the conference and move into hotels in Seoul as South Korean ministers drafted in medics to the event. The British delegation was the largest in attendance.
In a statement it said: “We will start moving our people to hotel accommodation over the next two days.
“As we are the largest contingent, our hope is that this helps alleviate the pressure on the site overall.
“We know that may be a disappointment for some and we will continue the Jamboree experience in Seoul, working with Korean authorities on a programme of activities so our young people still get the most from their time in Korea.”
South Korean ministers earlier ordered water trucks, and the provision of air-conditioned spaces at the event amid temperatures of 38C in some parts of the country.
“The government will use its all resources to ensure that the jamboree can end safely amid the heatwave," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told a cabinet meeting approving a £3.6m package to support the jamboree.
Among those in attendance is adventurer Bear Grylls who called for people to remain calm.
He posted a clip of his speech at the opening ceremony on Instagram with the caption: “It’s super hot in Korea. To all @Scouts there, remember the mantra: Shade & hydrate act early if struggling buddy buddy always.”
Around 39,000 participants, most of them scouts aged between 14 and 18, are at the event.
Several scouts were seen being stretchered off into a treatment room as temperatures climbed to 34C in Saemangeum, the area of reclaimed land in Buan where the scouts are camping.
Emergency services said most of those who fell ill due to the heat had mild symptoms.
Some activists and parents have questioned the viability of the jamboree, the first global gathering of the scouts since the pandemic.
Organisers said they were modifying the schedule depending on the temperature, adding that the scouts remained resilient.
“Despite the heat and the difficulties and the challenges that they are facing, only 8% reported that they were very unsatisfied with the experience so far," Jacob Murray, the director for World Events at the Scouts, told reporters.
“We are grateful to the Korean government and provincial government for providing additional resources."
The jamboree comes a few weeks after the President Yook Suk Yeol’s government was criticised for its handling of floods which killed over 40 people.
Some residents of Buan said the government should have been better prepared for the heat.
Earlier on Friday, Yoon called for an “unlimited" air-conditioned buses and water trucks to be sent to the jamboree.
A day earlier, he ordered dozens of military doctors and nurses to go to the campsite to provide emergency care.
The event is due to run until August 12.
