A series of autumn mountain accidents occurred in the Gangwon region today (October 11), the final day of the Hangeul Day holiday weekend.

At around 9:40 a.m. today, two foreign men in their 20s hiking near the Dinosaur Ridge on Mt. Seoraksan in Yongdae-ri, Buk-myeon, Inje-gun, were struck by falling rocks.

They complained of head injuries and pain in their left arm, and were rescued by a firefighting helicopter and transferred to a hospital.

Around 10:00 a.m., a man in his 60s complained of pain near the summit of Birobong Peak on Mt. Odaesan in Dongsari, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, and was transported to a hospital by a firefighting helicopter.

At around 12:10 p.m., a woman in her 50s heading toward Oseam Hermitage from Yeongsiam Hermitage in Yongdae-ri, Buk-myeon, Inje, injured her ankle and was rescued by helicopter.

Dispatch calls for mountain accidents have reportedly increased as the number of autumn hikers rises.

According to the Gangwon Fire Headquarters, the number of mountain accident dispatches from September to October 6 stood at 313, an increase of 55 (21.3%) compared to 258 cases during the same period last year.

(Photo provided by Gangwon Fire Headquarters, Yonhap News)