Fifteen people were injured in South Korea on Thursday when bombs dropped by fighter jets during military exercises accidentally landed in a civilian area in Pocheon. The explosions caused significant damage to houses and a church, according to the Air Force and fire department.

The Gyeonggi-do Bukbu Fire Services reported that 15 people were wounded, with two suffering serious injuries. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance and assess the damage. Authorities are now investigating how the bombs ended up in the civilian district and have assured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Pocheon is located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Seoul, near the heavily fortified border with North Korea. South Korea’s Air Force reported that eight 500-pound (225 kg) Mk82 bombs from KF-16 fighter jets fell outside the designated shooting range during joint live-fire exercises. In a statement, the Air Force apologized for the accident, expressing regret for the damage and wishing the injured a quick recovery.

Residents in the area have long protested against the disturbances and potential dangers posed by nearby military training grounds. After the incident, authorities evacuated residents around midday to inspect the area for any unexploded bombs, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Photos from the scene taken by Reuters showed shattered windows and a church covered in debris.
Earlier on Thursday, the defence ministry stated that South Korean and U.S. forces were conducting their first joint live-fire exercises in Pocheon, ahead of their annual military drills set to begin next week.

The Freedom Shield exercise, an annual joint drill between South Korea and the United States, will start on Monday and continue until March 20. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the drills aim to improve military readiness against threats like North Korea.

This year’s exercises will incorporate lessons from recent armed conflicts and take into account North Korea’s growing ties with Russia. Ryan Donald, a spokesperson for the United States Forces Korea (USFK), said that planners analyze global trends and adjust training accordingly.

Seoul’s JCS spokesperson, Lee Sung-jun, announced that about 70 combined field training sessions are planned for this year's exercise.

You might also be interested in - Thief swallows Tiffany & Co diamonds worth ₹6.7 crore to escape arrest- Video