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OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — The South Korean government declared the southeastern city of Gumi a special disaster area Monday, following after a chemical explosion that rocked the Hube Global plant a week earlier.

The city of Daegu — home of the Camps Henry, Walker and Carroll — sits about 20 miles south of Gumi. The Nakdong River also runs southerly through Gumi and Daegu.

Stars and Stripes was unable to reach U.S. Forces Korea officials to determine if any U.S. military personnel have been affected.

The explosion, which released eight tons of hydrochloric acid, occurred in the Gumi National Industrial Complex area on Sept. 27, resulting in the death of five workers and injuring 18 more.

Some 3,000 residents and villagers have been evacuated from the vicinity, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

limona@pstripes.osd.mil

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