SEOUL- South Korea is preparing to evacuate tens of thousands of youths from the world’s largest scout camp because of an approaching tropical storm.
The World Scout Jamboree on the west coast of South Korea was originally scheduled to last until August 12, but the feared impact of Typhoon Khanun changed that.
A spokeswoman for the presidential office on Monday said the South Korean government is in discussions with the organization after it requested help to relocate the participants to the capital.
she added that the weather has already made things difficult for the scouts, as they have faced a persistent heatwave since the meeting started in Saemangeum last Tuesday.
The area offers no natural shade for the participants, who are accommodated in more than 20,000 tents.
The world scouting body had called for an early end to the jamboree.
However, most of the national associations – including the German contingent with 2,200 scouts – decided to stay. Thousands of participants from Britain, the United States and Singapore, however, left the camp.
The strong typhoon is currently moving north towards the Korean peninsula and could make landfall in the southeast on Thursday, the South Korean weather office said. Fierce winds and heavy rain are expected.
More than 43,000 scouts from 158 countries had registered for the camp which is taking place on an area reclaimed from the sea.
The World Scout Jamboree takes place every four years. (dpa/NAN)
