20 gas tanks explode at US base in SKorea

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) – Military and fire officials were investigating the cause of multiple blasts at a United States military base in South Korea on Thursday afternoon after around 20 oxygen tanks exploded, according to local reports.

While tensions have been high with North Korea in recent weeks, the explosions happened at Camp Carroll, hundreds of kilometers southeast of Seoul -- it is one of several United States Forces Korea facilities on the peninsula, where nearly 30,000 American military personnel are stationed.

Officials cited by local news agency Yonhap said the gas tanks exploded at around 2.30 p.m. (0530GMT).

More than a dozen emergency response vehicles were dispatched to the scene, as it took half-an-hour for firefighters to put out the flames.

Despite claims of flying debris, no casualties were immediately reported.