Mountain Accidents Peak in October; Six in 10 Involve Slips, Falls or Getting Lost

[Financial News] Mountain-accident rescue dispatches were most frequent in October, the peak of the autumn foliage season. Over the past three years, October accounted for 12.4% of all annual rescue cases, the highest share of any month. Slips and falls, and missing persons and search operations, together accounted for more than 60% of accident types.
According to mountain-accident rescue activity statistics released by the National Fire Agency on the 12th, there were 30,583 mountain-accident rescue cases nationwide over the three years from 2023 through last year. The annual figures were 11,215 in 2023, 10,276 in 2024 and 9,092 last year, marking a decline for the second consecutive year. A total of 21,466 people were rescued over the same period, an annual average of 7,155.
October had the most rescue cases in all three years. Mountain accidents occurred frequently throughout the autumn season, from September through November.
By accident type, slips and falls were the most common, with 9,806 cases (32.1%). Missing persons and search operations came next, with 8,954 cases (29.3%). Together, the two categories accounted for 61.4% of the total. Individual medical conditions, including cramps and hypothermia, accounted for 3,149 cases (10.3%), while exhaustion and dehydration accounted for 1,502 (4.9%).
The National Fire Agency stressed the importance of reporting the exact accident location, since the terrain can make it difficult for rescue teams to reach the site and transport patients. If someone gets lost or an emergency occurs during a hike, they should check the national location number sign or mountain location marker installed along the trail and call 119. The agency maintains an emergency response posture with 34 fire helicopters nationwide.
To prevent mountain accidents during the autumn foliage season, the National Fire Agency urged hikers to stay on designated trails and come down before sunset.
Joo Young-guk, head of the National Fire Agency’s 119 Response Bureau, said, “During autumn hikes, sharp temperature swings and early sunsets can mean that even a moment of carelessness leads to a serious accident,” adding, “It is especially important to check the weather forecast in advance and choose a route suited to your fitness level.”

[email protected] Lee Bomi Reporter