Air force officials said eight bombs were “abnormally released” from a fighter jet during a live-fire military drill exercise. Media reported the shells landed in the civilian region of Pocheon.
Several civilians in South Korea were injured on Thursday after at least one military jet accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district during a live-fire military drill, the country’s Air Force said.
“Eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs were abnormally released from an Air Force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range,” the Air Force said.
“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” it said in a statement.
What do we know so far?
At least seven people were injured, including four seriously. Some reports say as many as 15 people were injured.
The Air Force said it has established an accident response committee to investigate the matter and vowed to take “all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”
Hours after the initial statement, Reuters and South Korean state news agency Yonhap reported the Air Force saying the bombs were released by two fighter jets.
Meanwhile South Korea’s military said the accidental bombing took place due to a case of “pilot error” and “mistaken coordinates.” The military, which was also involved in the joint exercise, said the live-fire drills would be halted pending further investigation, Yonhap reported.
The bombs fell around 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) in the Pocheon region of South Korea, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Seoul, local media reported. It is close to the heavily militarized border with North Korea.
South Korea’s National Fire Agency said the bombs were “presumed to have fallen on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise,” damaging houses and a church.
Earlier in the day, South Korea’s Defense Ministry had said it was conducting a joint live-fire military drill with the US in Pocheon, ahead of its annual military drills which start next week.
The ministry did not immediately comment on the accidentally dropped bombs.
What did the village residents say?
The village where the bombs fell is close to the Seungjin Training Ground, local media reported. For years now, local residents have protested against the disturbances and potential dangers of military drills.
Park, a resident of the area, told Yonhap that he was at home watching television when the incident occurred.
“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” he said.
A senior center close by was also affected.
“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” the center’s director told Yonhap, adding that the seniors were frightened but fortunately not hurt.
