White phosphorus leak prompts evacuation near Seoul
South Korean authorities on Tuesday briefly ordered civilians to evacuate after what they described as a white phosphorus leak at a U.S. military base near the capital, Seoul, reports BritPanorama.
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. at the Osan Air Base. The evacuation order was lifted several hours later, with city text messages indicating that decontamination work at the base had been completed.
Police established a perimeter 300 to 500 meters from the base, restricting pedestrian access and rerouting vehicles. There were no immediate reports of significant disruptions or accidents related to the incident.
In a statement, the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing did not confirm the leakage of white phosphorus but stated that it had established a 1,000-foot safety cordon around the base “due to a ground mishap and out of an abundance of caution” to protect both the base and the local populace. U.S. Forces Korea did not provide further comment regarding the incident.
“We are handling this matter with the utmost care and expediency,” the statement continued. “The safety and well-being of our service members, their families, and our Pyeongtaek neighbors remain our absolute highest priority.”
White phosphorus is a controversial chemical substance often employed in incendiary munitions. When ignited, it burns at extremely high temperatures and poses severe risks, including the potential to set buildings ablaze and inflict devastating burns.
