A fighter jet in South Korea accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian neighbourhood during a training exercise on Thursday, reportedly injuring eight people.
The MK-82 bombs, “abnormally” dropped by a KF-16 fighter jet, fell outside a training range, causing unspecified damage to civilians, the air force said in a statement.
The air force said it would set up a commission to investigate the cause of the accident and assess the extent of civilian damage.
The statement said the fighter jet was taking part in a joint live-fire exercise between the air force and the army.
The air force apologised for the damage caused to civilians and expressed hope for a speedy recovery of the injured. They said they would actively offer compensation and other necessary measures for the injured. The air force statement did not specify where the accident occurred.
However, South Korean media reported that it happened in the city of Pochon, located near the border with North Korea. Yonhap News Agency reported that five civilians and two soldiers were injured. According to South Korean media, the condition of two of the injured is serious but not life-threatening. Seven buildings were also damaged.
