Found in Western Australia After 6 Days of Search
"Needle Found in Haystack"
Radiation Exposure Concerns... Residents Breathe Sighs of Relief
A nail-sized radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia was found after six days of search operations, bringing relief to nearby residents.
On the 1st (local time), according to Australian ABC News and others, Steven Dawson, Western Australia (WA) Minister for Emergency Services, held a press conference and announced that the capsule was found about 50 km south of the mining town of Newman.
The appearance of the radioactive capsule lost by Australian mining company Rio Tinto on the 25th of last month (local time). [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]
Minister Dawson said, "We found the 'needle' in a haystack," adding, "Western Australians can sleep more comfortably tonight." This is the result of six days of search efforts by authorities.
The authorities have been searching the entire Great Northern Highway, which stretches 1,400 km. Although the capsule's small size made the search difficult, the authorities used special equipment capable of detecting radiation to scan the highway and fortunately discovered the capsule. The recovered capsule is a silver cylindrical object measuring 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm in height, containing cesium-137.
Minister Dawson stated that the military authorities are currently verifying the capsule, and once the process is complete, it will be transported to a secure facility.
On the 28th of last month (local time), the Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services Authority is searching for a lost radioactive capsule on a freight transport route on the outskirts of Perth, Australia. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Earlier, Australian mining company Rio Tinto sent a radiation measuring device used in mining operations at a mine in Newman, Western Australia, to Perth, a city 1,400 km away in the southwest, for repairs on the 12th of last month. The device arrived at the repair factory warehouse in Perth four days later, on the 16th.
However, when the box was opened for repairs on the 25th of last month, the measuring device was found disassembled with screws loosened. Notably, the capsule containing cesium-137, which should have been inside the device, was missing.
Cesium is a radioactive material that emits both gamma and beta rays, with a half-life of 30 years. Accordingly, Australian health authorities warned that being within 1 meter of the capsule for one hour exposes a person to radiation equivalent to receiving ten X-rays, so the general public must stay at least 5 meters away.
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