The Sri Lankan Scout Contingent participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Korea was safely evacuated from the Saemangeum Jamboree site yesterday (Aug. 08), in view of typhoon Khanun that is scheduled to make landfall in the Republic of Korea late on August 09.
The contingent was relocated to the Dangkook University in Cheonan, on the outskirts of Seoul. The Sri Lankan scouts have safely reached their new accommodation and are in good health. They will continue with certain activities and programs in their new location.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Korea is closely liaising with the management of the Sri Lanka scout contingent, as well as the relevant South Korean authorities, to ensure the continued safety and welfare of all Sri Lankan scouts participating in the Jamboree.
South Korea began evacuating 37,000 scouts and volunteers from the site of the World Scout Jamboree on Tuesday ahead of an approaching typhoon, as organizers look to salvage the final days of an event that has been plagued by scorching temperatures and subpar campground conditions
Some 1,000 buses were deployed to move the scouts from the Saemangeum campsite in the southwest of the country to eight locations, primarily in the Seoul metropolitan area, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said at a briefing Tuesday.
The campers will be put up at 128 sites, including university dormitories and government training centers, and Lee said officials would ensure food quality and ample medical facilities -- shortcomings that afflicted the jamboree from the outset.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, the evacuation operation was still in progress, with only 65% of the buses having departed by 4 p.m.
Typhoon Khanun is forecast to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday morning, bringing heavy rains and winds that could reach more than 90 mph, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The typhoon killed at least two, injured dozens and caused widespread power outages in southwestern Japan last week.
