SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two large-scale oil spills were recently reported at the U.S. military bases in South Korea, Yonhap news agency said Thursday.
About 11,000 gallons, or some 41,600 liters, of fighter jet fuel were leaked from a fuel tank at a major U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan, around 180 km south of the capital Seoul, Yonhap said, citing the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
The 8th fighter wing of the U.S. Air Force was quoted as saying that it had taken measures to contain and remediate pollutants and that there was no immediate risk to the health and safety of residents in nearby towns.
Yonhap said the U.S. Air Force was currently investigating the cause of the incident.
On Feb. 5, an unknown volume of fuel was also leaked at another U.S. Air Force base in Osan, around 60 km south of Seoul.
Under the Status of Forces Agreement, the USFK bases are granted by the South Korean government to the U.S. military, which holds the right to use land and facilities within the bases. The South Korean government retains ownership of the bases. ■