In South Korea, evacuation was announced due to a possible white phosphorus leak at a US military base

South Korean authorities on Tuesday temporarily ordered residents to evacuate after a white phosphorus leak occurred at a U.S. military base near the capital Seoul. This was reported by ABC News, writes UNN.

Details

Officials in the city of Pyeongtaek urged residents of nearby areas to move to a safe location and avoid skin contact with the substance after the leak at Osan Air Base was discovered around 5:00 p.m. A few hours later, the evacuation order was canceled, with notification that decontamination work had been completed.

According to reports, police established a safety perimeter at a distance of 300 to 500 meters from the base, blocking pedestrian traffic and redirecting vehicles. No information about serious disruptions or emergencies was received.

In a statement, the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing did not mention the white phosphorus leak. It noted that a 300-meter safety zone was created around the base "due to an incident on the ground and out of an abundance of caution" to protect the military base and the local population. It also emphasized that reports of a general evacuation of the air base are not true.

We are doing everything possible to resolve this situation as quickly and as carefully as possible. The safety and well-being of our service members, their families, and the residents of Pyeongtaek remain our highest priority

The U.S. Forces Korea command did not provide additional comments regarding the incident.

Reference

White phosphorus is a controversial chemical substance used in incendiary munitions and smoke shells. Once ignited, it burns at extremely high temperatures, can cause fires, and inflict severe burns that damage tissue down to the bone.

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