South Korean authorities briefly ordered civilians to evacuate after a reported white phosphorus leak at the Osan Air Base, a US military base near the capital, Seoul.
Incident Details
Officials in the city of Pyeongtaek urged nearby residents to move to a safe location and avoid skin exposure after the leak was detected at around 5 p.m. They lifted the evacuation order several hours later, saying decontamination work had been completed.
Police reportedly used vehicles to establish a perimeter 300 to 500 meters from the base, blocking pedestrians and rerouting vehicles. There were no immediate reports of major disruptions or accidents.
US Response
In a statement, the US 51st Fighter Wing did not mention a leakage of white phosphorus but said it established a 1,000-foot safety cordon around the base “due to a ground mishap and out of an abundance of caution” to protect the base and the local populace.
“We are handling this matter with the utmost care and expediency,” it said. “The safety and well-being of our service members, their families, and our Pyeongtaek neighbors remain our absolute highest priority.”
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
