Jeju Fire Headquarters Issues 'Spring Season Lost Safety Accident Warning' on 30th

Published 29 Mar.2022 10:12(KST)

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Park Geun-oh) has issued a "Spring Season Lost Safety Accident Advisory" on the 30th in anticipation of increased outdoor activities such as bracken harvesting, climbing oreums, and exploring Olle trails during the spring season.

According to the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters on the 29th, a total of 246 lost safety accidents have occurred in the province over the past three years, resulting in one death and 18 injuries, with an average of more than six casualties annually. Most of the victims (216 people) were rescued in good condition.

By type, lost safety accidents related to bracken harvesting (111 cases, 45.1%) were the most frequent, followed by accidents during mountain and oreum exploration (77 cases, 31.3%), and accidents during Olle and Dullegil trail exploration (58 cases, 23.6%).

By month, April and May recorded the highest number with a total of 136 cases (55.3%). Since April to May is the peak season for bracken harvesting, 94.6% (105 cases) of lost safety accidents during bracken harvesting were concentrated in this period.

The most frequent locations of occurrence were the eastern eup and myeon areas (154 cases, 62.6%), with the majority of lost accidents during bracken harvesting also occurring in the eastern eup and myeon areas (76 cases, 68.5%).

On April 6 last year, a woman in her 70s who was harvesting bracken alone in Sehwa-ri, Gujwa-eup, got lost and was unable to find an exit but was rescued by a dispatched rescue team.

In Dosun-dong, Seogwipo City, a similar case occurred where a woman in her 70s got lost while harvesting bracken, and the dispatched rescue team successfully located and rescued her using a drone. Such lost safety accidents continue to occur steadily.

Accordingly, the Fire Safety Headquarters has issued the lost safety accident advisory and plans to establish a rapid dispatch system and a cooperative system with related agencies to conduct swift search operations in preparation for accidents.

They also plan to raise awareness of safety accidents through focused publicity, including strengthening rescue capabilities with drone and search-and-rescue dog training, patrolling key areas, and spreading safety rules.

A Fire Safety Headquarters official said, "To prepare for lost accidents, always accompany companions and carry equipment such as mobile phones and whistles that can signal your location in emergencies."

He added, "When harvesting bracken, avoid going too deep into the area, and if you get lost, do not panic. Return to a remembered point to confirm your location again or report to 119. We urge everyone to thoroughly familiarize themselves with these safety rules."