SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ten soldiers were injured Wednesday in an explosion accident at an army artillery unit in northwestern South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency.

A mock shell, used to create the effects of sound and smoke when a real shell is exploded, detonated for unidentified reasons during artillery drills without live ammunition at the unit in the northwestern city of Paju at about 3:24 p.m. local time (0624 GMT).

Ten soldiers, including five non-commissioned officers, were taken to hospitals with burns on their arms, thighs and hands. No life-threatening injury was reported.

The military police were investigating the exact cause of the accident. ■