Two KF-16 fighter jets of the South Korean Air Force accidentally dropped eight air-to-surface bombs outside a training range during a live-fire exercise on Thursday, March 6, injuring 15 people, Yonhap news agency reported, citing military officials and fire authorities.
Authorities said the bombing occurred over the city of Pocheon, about 40 kilometers north of Seoul, at around 10 a.m., injuring 15 people, including two soldiers and two foreigners, from light to serious, and damaging a church and seven other buildings.
Fire authorities also said two civilian men were seriously injured and taken to hospital, but said their injuries – to their faces and shoulders – were not life-threatening. Eight other people with minor injuries were also taken to hospitals for treatment.
Authorities expect the number of injured to rise as more people seek help.
About 50 residents in the area were evacuated to the city hall, located away from the blast site.
The military said the KF-16 fighter jets, which were taking part in live-fire exercises, "abnormally" released four MK-82 bombs each outside a training ground in Pocheon at 10:04 a.m.
The Air Force said it was investigating the incident, led by Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ki-wan, and apologized for the damage caused to civilians.
"We are sorry for the civilian damage from the abnormal (bomb) release accident and wish for the swift recovery of those injured," the Air Force said in a statement. "We will actively take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damage," the North Korean Air Force said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, South Korea and the United States conducted joint live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border, demonstrating firepower against the North Korean military threat ahead of their annual spring drills this month.
The military said the drills took place at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, just 25 kilometers south of the border, and involved more than 160 pieces of military equipment, including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters and F-35A stealth jets.
This was the first accidental bombing by South Korean fighter jets that resulted in human casualties. It is noted that in 2004, an Air Force F-5B fighter jet mistakenly dropped a training bomb over the city of Boryeong, located 138 kilometers south of Seoul, and no one was injured.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, a Boeing 737-800 of Jeju Air crashed in South Korea. While landing at Muan International Airport, the plane skidded off the runway, hit a fence and exploded. There were 181 people on board the plane.
The deadliest air disaster in the country claimed the lives of 179 people.
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