The Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters has urged the public to strictly follow safety rules as the risk of mountain accidents increases with the rise of autumn foliage hikers.

Because autumn features large temperature differences between day and night and shorter daylight hours, hikers must adequately prepare before their trips and exercise special caution to prevent safety accidents.

According to the Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, a total of 2,779 mountain accidents occurred across the province over the past three years, with 562 of them (20.2%) concentrated in October and November. The majority of these accidents were caused by negligence and failure to follow safety guidelines, such as slips, falls, and getting lost.

Accidents have continued to occur recently. On the 19th, a man in his 60s hiking near Biryong Falls on Dongdaesan Mountain in Jukjang-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang, fell about 20 meters down into a valley and was found in a state of traumatic cardiac arrest. On the 20th, a man in his 60s who went into a mountain in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, to gather wild herbs got lost and was found in a cardiac arrest state the following day on the 21st.

To prevent mountain accidents, hikers must strictly follow safety rules: checking weather forecasts and climbing courses before the hike, refraining from drinking alcohol before hiking, descending before 4:00 PM prior to sunset, preparing spare clothing, flashlights, and sufficient backup batteries, hiking with at least two people, and using designated hiking trails.

Sung Ho-sun, head of the Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, stated, "During the autumn season, the risk of mountain accidents such as slips, falls, and getting lost increases alongside the rise in hikers. For an enjoyable hike, please thoroughly check safety rules before departure and undertake a safe hike suited to your physical stamina and hiking conditions."

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