White Phosphorus Leak at US Air Base in South Korea Prompts Evacuation Alert

An accident involving a white phosphorus leak occurred at the U.S. Osan Air Base (K-55) in Seotan-myeon, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 28th. The city of Pyeongtaek issued an emergency disaster alert shortly after the incident.

The alert urged nearby residents to "evacuate to a safe place to avoid skin exposure." White phosphorus is a chemical agent commonly used by militaries as a smoke-producing agent. It is known to cause severe burns upon contact with human skin and can be fatal if its fumes are inhaled in large quantities.

Emergency services, including police, fire departments, and military authorities, are currently on-site. They are implementing safety measures and working to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the accident. Further details regarding the extent of the leak and potential environmental impact are still being investigated.