US base in South Korea reports white phosphorus leak; residents urged to evacuate

A white phosphorus leak has been reported at Osan Air Base, a US military installation in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, prompting authorities to urge nearby residents to evacuate.The leak occurred around 4.54 pm at the base in Seotan-myeon, according to fire and police authorities. Firefighters responded to a report of "suspected chemical leakage from a warhead," deploying nine units of equipment and 31 personnel to contain the site.White phosphorus is highly reactive and can spontaneously combust in air. Contact with skin can cause severe burns, and inhaling large amounts of smoke may be fatal. It is often used by the military to produce smoke screens during movement.Pyeongtaek City sent an emergency disaster message urging residents to "evacuate to a safe place to avoid skin exposure." No casualties have been reported so far.Fire, police and military authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident once safety measures are completed.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.