At least 15 people were injured on Thursday after two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped their bombs on a civilian area during a live fire exercise with the U.S. military near the country’s border with North Korea.
South Korea firefighters move near a bomb accident site where a South Korean fighter jet ... [+]
Citing South Korean military officials, Yonhap news agency reported that two F-16 fighter jets flown by the country’s air force released four Mark 82 bombs “abnormally” during a live fire exercise near the city of Pocheon on Thursday morning.
The bombs fell outside the designated firing range and fell in a village in Pocheon, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of the country’s capital Seoul and damaged eight buildings, including a church.
The report said at least 15 people—including two soldiers and two foreign nationals—were injured in the accidental strike.
At least 10 of the injured individuals have been taken to the hospital, including two civilian men who sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries to their face and shoulder.
Authorities said the incident was under investigation and live-fire exercises—a type of military drill where live ammunition is used—have been put on pause until a cause is determined.
This is a developing story.