An urgent search is currently underway in Western Australia on January 28 after reports emerged that a small capsule containing radioactive material went missing during transportation from a mining site.
The radioactive capsule could be anywhere along the over 1,400km route between Malaga, in Perth, and the remote town of Newman in Western Australia. (Source: ABC News).
The capsule containing the radioactive substance measures 8mm x 6mm and is used in mining operations. It has been missing since mid-January along the approximately 1,400km stretch between the remote town of Newman and the suburbs north of Perth.
Meanwhile, the Western Australia Health Department revealed that this capsule containing Caesium-137 is believed to have fallen off a truck while being transported to a storage facility.
The head of the Western Australia Health Department, Mr. Andrew Robertson, warned of the risk of radiation burns or contamination if anyone touches the radioactive capsule.
The agency urges the public that if they discover the capsule, they must not touch it and should immediately contact emergency services.
Mr. Robertson further stated that authorities could only issue a warning on January 25 after the company responsible reported the loss of the radioactive capsule.
A spokesperson from the fire service mentioned that authorities are prioritizing the search for the missing radioactive capsule in densely populated areas, and this process could take several weeks.
