Fighter jet drops 8 bombs on houses & church near border with North Korea injuring 7 civilians

SEVEN people have been injured after a South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on small town during a joint drill with the US.

The botched training happened shortly after 10am on Friday in Pocheon, a city near the heavily fortified border with north Korea.

The South Korean KF-16 fighter jet “abnormally” released its MK-82 500-pound bombs outside a designated firing range, the South Korean Air Force said in a statement.

“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the statement read.

The accident injured seven people and damaged homes and local buildings, including a church.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene as residents described the moment the bombs fell.

One resident, surnamed Park, told Yonhap News Agency: “I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos.”

At a nearby senior care centre, windows shattered, and one teacher was hospitalised with injuries.

“Fortunately, none of the seniors were hurt, but they were so frightened that we sent them all home,” the center’s director, surnamed Yu, said.

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