Fifteen people were injured in South Korea today, Thursday, after bombs accidentally fell on a residential area during a military exercise in Bucheon, located 40 kilometers northeast of Seoul, near the border with North Korea.
The South Korean Air Force reported that the incident occurred during a joint training exercise with U.S. forces, where two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight Mk82 bombs, each weighing 225 kg, outside the designated firing range due to incorrect coordinates entered by one of the pilots.
The accident resulted in the destruction of several homes and a church in the affected area. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, with two reported in critical condition.
Authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the error, while military officials have pledged to enhance safety measures in future drills to prevent similar accidents.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among local residents, with many calling for stricter safety protocols for military exercises conducted near civilian areas.