Panic in South Korea: Dangerous Material Leaked from US Military Base

South Korean authorities ordered the evacuation of civilians near a US military base today, Tuesday, following a white phosphorus leak. The incident occurred at Osan Air Base, located near Seoul, and caused significant concern among local residents.

Officials in the city of Pyeongtaek urged residents in the area to evacuate to a safe location and avoid skin contact after the leak was discovered around 17:00. The evacuation order was lifted a few hours later after authorities announced that cleanup operations had been completed.

Police forces established a security perimeter around the base, within a range of 300 to 500 meters, blocked pedestrian access, and diverted traffic. No significant disruptions or accidents were reported as a result of the incident.

At the same time, the 51st Fighter Wing of the US military released a statement confirming that a safety cordon had been established around the base "due to a ground incident and as an increased precautionary measure," though it did not explicitly mention a white phosphorus leak. The statement clarified that reports of a general evacuation of the base are incorrect and that the safety of service members and local residents remains the top priority.