Mujinjang Fire Station Issues Warning for Autumn Mountain Accidents

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Tae-in] Mujinjang Fire Station (Chief Park Deok-gyu) on the 15th urged special caution as the number of hikers increases nationwide in October, when autumn foliage reaches its peak, leading to a series of safety accidents.

According to Mujinjang Fire Station, in the past three years (2017-2019), there have been 1,493 mountain accident rescue operations in the province (337 cases within Mujinjang Fire Station jurisdiction).

The most common incidents were general distress such as getting lost during hiking, accounting for 83 cases (24.6%), followed by falls or slips, and personal illnesses caused by excessive hiking. Monthly data showed that most accidents occurred in October, when the autumn leaves change color.

On the 1st, during Chuseok, a 70-year-old man, Mr. A (74 years old, male), who went to pick mushrooms in Gosan-gol, Sangjeon-myeon, Jinan-gun, died, and on the 3rd, Mr. B (male, 82 years old), who fell at Jijangsan in Bunam-myeon, Muju-gun, was airlifted by fire department helicopter to a hospital with severe trauma including multiple fractures.

Preventive measures to avoid such mountain accidents include ▲ warming up before hiking ▲ preparing necessary items such as first aid kits ▲ not leaving the hiking trail when collecting forest products like mushrooms ▲ hiking with two or more people ▲ sufficient hydration ▲ descending at least two hours before sunset.

Heo Gwon-cheol, Director of the Fire Protection and Rescue Division, said, “Thorough preparation and adherence to basic safety rules are important to prevent mountain safety accidents,” and added, “We will make every effort to implement mountain safety measures for safe hiking.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.