Fuel Spill at USFK Bases Within Ten Days

41,600 L leaked at Gunsan Air Base last month

It has been reported that more than 40,000 liters (L) of fuel leaked at the U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan, where United States Forces Korea are stationed.

Photo from 2022 when former commander Paul LaCamera (commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and commander of the United Nations Command) visited the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing. Photo provided by United States Forces Korea Facebook, Yonhap News

According to United States Forces Korea on the 19th, the U.S. Air Force 8th Fighter Wing determined that, due to an accident that occurred at Gunsan Air Base on January 26, approximately 11,000 gallons (about 41,600 L) of jet fuel leaked from a fuel tank.

The 8th Fighter Wing stated that, immediately upon discovering the accident, it took measures on site to contain and control the contaminants, and at the time announced that there was no immediate risk to the health or safety of residents in nearby communities. The U.S. Air Force is investigating the cause of the accident, and it is difficult to find a precedent for a fuel spill of this scale at a United States Forces Korea base.

In addition, it has been reported that a fuel spill also occurred earlier this month at Osan Air Base, where the U.S. Air Force is stationed. The U.S. Air Force 51st Fighter Wing, based at Osan Air Base, stated that a fuel spill occurred on base on February 5, and that civil engineering squadron personnel responded immediately and implemented containment measures. This came just ten days after the Gunsan Air Base fuel spill.

The 51st Fighter Wing is working to determine the total volume of the fuel spill. As of the 13th, it announced that it had recovered 230 gallons (about 870 L) of leaked fuel. The 51st Fighter Wing stated that it is currently conducting remediation work at the spill site and that this incident does not pose a risk to the health or safety of the surrounding community.

United States Forces Korea bases are provided to U.S. forces by the South Korean government under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The U.S. military has the right to use the land and facilities within the bases, but ownership remains with the South Korean government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.