The South Korean airforce says it accidentally fired a surface-to-air-missile, causing some injury and damage.

The missile was launched from a military base in the western port of Inchon,some twenty kilometers west of the capital, Seoul.

South Korean reports say the unarmed missile went off as technicians were checking the equipment; it was exploded by a remote safety device.

Three people were injured by the shrapnel fragments that showered residential streets, damaging vehicles and homes.

At least four passenger aircraft were in the vicinity at the time of the firing.