In Australia, the mystery of the missing radioactive capsule is finally solved
John W. Banaghan/Getty Images
An aerial view of the Mount Whaleback Mine, near the town of Newman, Australia.
Australia – People in Western Australia will feel a little calmer. A potentially dangerous radioactive capsule was found in AustraliaAnd It has been in demand since mid-January After it was lost while being transported by a truck from a mine, authorities announced on Wednesday, February 1.
“It’s a good thing. Like I said, it was definitely a needle in the haystack of being found and I think people in Western Australia will be able to sleep better tonight.”Steve Dawson, the chief of emergency services for this Australian state, told the press.
BREAKING: A lethal radioactive capsule has been found a week after it went missing in outback Western Australia. 7 … https://t.co/1rrIJeGtiw
– 7NEWS Australia (@7NewsAustralia)
Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto on Monday apologized for the loss.
Authorities drove hundreds of miles on highways looking for the tiny capsule.
Discovery at the edge of a deserted road
It was eventually discovered on the side of a deserted road south of the town of Newman, near the mine from which it had been taken, said Darren Clem, an official with the state emergency services.
After six days of searching, one of the packaged vehicles detected radiation while driving on the highway.
Darren Clem said authorities are now working to safely recover the capsule before it can be moved to a safe location.
The silver-colored capsule, measuring 8 mm by 6 mm, used during mining operations, according to the authorities, contained radioactive material, cesium-137, capable of causing blunt radiation.
It went missing while being transported by truck from a mine near the remote town of Newman to the northern suburbs of Perth, a distance of about 1,400 kilometres.
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