Fifteen people were injured, including two seriously, when two fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district during a live-fire military exercise in South Korea, according to local media.
The incident occurred around 10:04 AM local time (01:04 GMT) in the city of Pocheon, located near the North Korean border. The jets involved were South Korea’s KF-16 fighter aircraft.
South Korea’s Air Force has launched an investigation into the accident and issued an apology, offering compensation to those affected. The Air Force emphasised that while shells from live-fire exercises sometimes land near civilian areas, such incidents rarely result in injuries.
Reports indicate that two people suffered fractures to their necks and shoulders, while a 60-year-old driver sustained shrapnel injuries to their neck. The individual recalled hearing a loud explosion while driving and later found themselves in an ambulance.
The Air Force explained that the mishap occurred when one of the pilots entered incorrect coordinates, causing the bombs to drop outside the designated firing range. The military has yet to explain why the second jet also released its bombs in the civilian area. As a result, all live-fire exercises have been suspended.
Several structures were damaged in the blast, including a church and residential homes. Local media showed images of a building with a broken window and a damaged church roof.
A resident described how the explosion, which sounded like thunder, shook their home while they were watching TV. Additionally, a nearby senior citizen care centre reported shattered windows, and one of their teachers was hospitalised with injuries. Although no elderly residents were hurt, the shock prompted the staff to send everyone home.
Authorities initially evacuated residents as a bomb disposal team worked to clear any unexploded ordnance but later confirmed no unexploded bombs were found at the scene.
The incident took place during a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States, which is scheduled to continue from March 10 to March 20. These drills are particularly significant given the growing concerns over North Korea’s alliance with Russia.
This is not the first time such a mishap has occurred. In a 2022 joint exercise, a short-range ballistic missile fired by the two nations malfunctioned, crashing on a military base’s golf course. Though the warhead did not explode, it caught fire, causing widespread panic in the nearby area.
