Eight climbers stranded by rising stream in off-limits zone on Seoraksan

Eight climbers were rescued after they became stranded by a rapidly rising stream while descending from a rock climb on Seoraksan in Gangwon Province.

According to the Seoraksan National Park Office, the climbers had entered a zone that is off-limits to the public. They had finished their climb and were on their way down when rain caused the stream to swell quickly, making it impossible for them to move. They then called for help.

A total of 17 rescuers from the national park's special rescue team and the 119 rescue service responded. They reached the group and freed them about an hour and a half after receiving the report. Some of the climbers showed signs of hypothermia at the time of the rescue, but none were in life-threatening condition.

"Seoraksan has deep valleys and many steep slopes, so streams can swell rapidly during heavy rain and easily leave hikers stranded," Choi Seung-cheol, head of the disaster safety division at the Seoraksan National Park Office, said Wednesday. "Even on a planned hike, if it starts to rain, hikers should give up on the climb and quickly head down to a safe area."