South Korea to send four chartered planes to Wuhan to evacuate some 700 nationals
South Korean citizens in the Chinese city of Wuhan are set to be evacuated amid increasing anxiety and concerns about the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The government said it plans to send four chartered planes to Wuhan from Thursday to Friday to evacuate some 700 nationals.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho said on Tuesday that consultations were under way with Chinese authorities to arrange details for the emergency operation.
He said the decision was made after considering the extent of the outbreak, the fact that the Chinese government has suspended all transportation in Wuhan and also that medical supplies are becoming limited.
Lee assured the evacuees will be quarantined before they board and placed in isolation immediately after they arrive in South Korea.
The minister stressed those showing any symptoms will not be allowed to leave Wuhan in accordance with the Chinese government's policy.
The United States and Japan are among other countries that have begun airlifting their citizens from China.
There have been at least 106 confirmed deaths from the outbreak and more than 4,600 cases of infection.■
<Image: Yonhap News>
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