Singapore scouts to continue with activities in South Korea after typhoon threat cuts short jamboree

Singapore scouts to continue with activities in South Korea after typhoon threat cuts short jamboree

Organisers of the jamboree called for the South Korean government to “urgently” help with efforts to send participants home due to the typhoon warning.

Last week, hundreds of scouts were treated for heat-related ailments at the jamboree as temperatures soared.

Several contingents, including Singapore, relocated its participants to other sites over the weekend. None of the Singapore participants fell ill, said Mr Ang.

He added that the Singapore scouts will get to interact with their foreign peers, providing a “whole learning experience for them”.

Before the typhoon warning, the Singapore participants told CNA that they were sad that they could not remain at the camping site with their new friends, but they understood why the contingent had to leave.

“I wish I was back here, because of the friendships I forged over the past few days. It feels really sad to leave them halfway through so I would like to come back,” one scout said.

Another said: β€œIt’s quite sad when you have to pull out and then you can’t be part of the entire event.”

HEATWAVE

Tens of thousands of participants took part in the 12-day event in Saemangeum, where temperatures hit 34 degrees Celsius. The global event takes place once every four years.

The military, police and firefighting authorities were sent to the area, along with more medical staff amid the soaring temperatures.

The government had also deployed another 132 air-conditioned buses, increasing the total number to 262. Shuttle buses within the campsite also doubled, with 24 buses that ran at 10-minute intervals, instead of 30 minutes previously.

The military had also installed 69 additional canopies to provide shade throughout the campsite.