Several civilians in South Korea were injured on Thursday after a military jet accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district during a live-fire military drill, the country’s Air Force said.

“Eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs were abnormally released from an Air Force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range,” the Air Force said.

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

At least seven people were injured, including four seriously.

The Air Force said it has established an accident response committee to investigate the matter and vowed to take “all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”

What do we know so far?

The bombs fell around 10:00 am (0100 GMT) in the Pocheon region of South Korea which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Seoul, local media reported. It is close to the heavily militarized border with North Korea.

South Korea’s National Fire Agency said that the bombs were “presumed to have fallen on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise.”

The bombs reportedly damaged houses and a church.

Earlier in the day, South Korea’s Defense Ministry had said that it was conducting a joint live-fire military drill with the US in Pocheon, ahead of its annual military drills which start next week.

The ministry did not immediately comment on the accidentally dropped bombs.

What did the village residents say?

The village where the bombs fells is close to the Seungjin Training Groung, local media reported. For years now, local residents have protested against the disturbances and potential dangers of military drills. 

Park, a resident of the area, told Yonhap news agency that he was at home watching television when the incident ocurred.

“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” he said. 

A senior center close by was also affected.

“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” the center’s director told Yonhap, adding that the seniors were frightened but fortunately not hurt. 

Edited by: Rana Taha