Seoul, South Korea – Two South Korean hunting planes accidentally abandoned eight bombs in a civil area during training on Thursday, injuring at least eight people, officials said. A report put the number at 15.
The MK-82 bombs of 500 pounds released by KF-16 fighter planes fell outside a shooting field and caused civil damage, the Air Force said in a statement.
The Air Force said that it will establish a committee to investigate why the accident occurred and examine the extent of civil damage. He said hunting planes participated in the Air Force joint exercises with the army.
Kim Hong-ji / Reuters
The incident occurred around 10 a.m., local time reported Agency France-Press.
An unidentified Air Force official told local journalists that one of the KF-16s had put poor contact details for an attack site. An unidentified defense ministry official also told journalists that more investigation was necessary to know why the second KF-16 had also abandoned bombs in a civil zone.
The contents of the civil servant briefing was shared with the foreign media.
The Air Force apologized and expressed his hopes for rapid recovery from the wounded. He said he will actively offer compensation and take the other necessary measures.
The accident occurred in Pocheon, a city close to the strongly armed border with North Korea.
Kim Hong-ji / Reuters
In a television briefing, Pocheon mayor, Paek Young-Hyun, described the attacks as “terrible” and urged the military to stop exercises in the city until it formulates reliable stages which can prevent a recurrence. He said that Pocheon, a city of 140,000 inhabitants, provides three major shooting beaches to the South Korean and American soldiers.
The army said that it was decided to suspend live shooting exercises in Pocheon, but the reuters news agency cited a manager saying that the joint military exercises in the United States South Korean who should start would not be affected.
Paek described Thursday’s training as a joint exercise with the American army. But the South Korean Defense Ministry could not confirm this immediately.
The pocket disaster response center said six civilians and two soldiers were injured and were treated in hospitals. Four of the injured – all civilians – were in serious condition, the center said. Two of the strangers are foreigners – one of Thailand and the other from Myanmar.
The local fire agency said in a statement that 15 people were injured, two seriously, Reuters reported.
Three houses were partially damaged with a Catholic church and a greenhouse, but they did not seem to have been directly struck by the 2 bombs, according to the Pocheon Center.
Residents of the region have been alarmed about the potential danger of nearby training grounds for years, notes Reuters.
