Subscribe
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers from the 718th Ordnance Detachment arrive at Camp Walker to provide assistance with the disposal of an unexploded mortar that was dug up Friday at the installation.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers from the 718th Ordnance Detachment arrive at Camp Walker to provide assistance with the disposal of an unexploded mortar that was dug up Friday at the installation. (Lamont Shavers, AFN Daegu)

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers from the 718th Ordnance Detachment arrive at Camp Walker to provide assistance with the disposal of an unexploded mortar that was dug up Friday at the installation.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers from the 718th Ordnance Detachment arrive at Camp Walker to provide assistance with the disposal of an unexploded mortar that was dug up Friday at the installation. (Lamont Shavers, AFN Daegu)

This round of unexploded ordnance was uncovered by construction workers at Camp Walker, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.

This round of unexploded ordnance was uncovered by construction workers at Camp Walker, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (U.S. Army)

SEOUL, South Korea — Construction workers found an unexploded mortar round buried on Camp Walker, a U.S. base southeast of Seoul, on Friday, prompting the military to evacuate several buildings.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team along with emergency crews including local firefighters and police were dispatched to the site, which was cordoned off, according to a press release.

The team from the 2nd Infantry Division’s 718th Ordnance Company “gave Camp Walker the all clear” after removing the weapon later Friday.

The mortar will be transported to a gunnery range where it will be safely detonated, officials said.

John Kirby, the acting manager for U.S. Army Garrison Daegu, which includes Camp Walker, praised the responses of all involved.

“The coordination between the garrison and the Nam-gu (local district) fire and emergency teams was flawless,” he said in a statement. “From notification to all clear, safety was our number one priority.”

Several businesses and facilities on the base that had been closed or evacuated as a safety measure were notified and would reopen shortly, the garrison said.

news@stripes.com

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now