South Korean officials issued a temporary evacuation order for local residents on Tuesday following a suspected white phosphorus leak at a U.S. military base near Seoul.
The alert was raised around 5:00 p.m. after the leak was detected at Osan Air Base. Authorities in Pyeongtaek City advised nearby residents to move to safe areas and avoid direct skin contact. The warning was canceled several hours later after local decontamination efforts concluded, according to city government text alerts.
The U.S. 51st Fighter Wing stated that base personnel established a 300-meter safety perimeter following the discovery of white phosphorus crystallization and residue inside a storage container during a routine inspection.
Explosive ordnance disposal experts were deployed and emergency response protocols were activated to secure the munitions. Operations at the base returned to normal after emergency crews contained the area and lifted the cordon.
Official statements confirmed there were no casualties or ongoing threats to the community.
”out of an abundance of caution”
”no injuries resulting from this situation and no risk to personnel on or off installation.”
Base commander Col. Ryan Ley emphasized the installation’s focus on safety following the incident.
“The safety of our service members, their families, and our Pyeongtaek neighbors remains our absolute highest priority,” Ley said.
White phosphorus is a highly toxic, flammable substance used in smoke screens and incendiary weapons. When exposed to air, it burns at extreme temperatures, causing severe, deep tissue burns and setting nearby structures ablaze.