US air base in South Korea confirms ‘ground mishap’

A reported white phosphorus leak at a U.S. military base in South Korea prompted local authorities to briefly order civilians to evacuate on Tuesday.

Officials in Pyeongtaek, near the capital, Seoul, said residents close to Osan Air Base should move to a safe location after a leak was detected at around 5 p.m., an evacuation order that was lifted several hours later, The Associated Press reported. 

In a statement released later Tuesday, the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing referred to the incident as “a ground mishap” that occurred at 5:08 p.m. but did not mention a white phosphorus leak.

It also denied reports of a general evacuation of Osan Air Base, calling them “incorrect,” but that “out of an abundance of caution,” the military installation........

© The Hill