Authorities are now grappling with the daunting task of searching along the truck's 1,400 kilometre journey from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth, Western Australia
The radioactive capsule, believed to have fallen from a truck, was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed which had been entrusted to a specialist contractor to transport.Authorities are now grappling with the daunting task of searching along the truck's 1,400km journey from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Britain.
"If the source just happened to be lying in the middle of the road you might get lucky...It's quite radioactive so if you get close to it, it will stick out," he said.When it was unpacked for inspection on 25 January, the gauge was found broken apart, with one of four mounting bolts missing and screws from the gauge also gone.
The silver capsule, 6mm in diameter and 8mm long, contains Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour. The state's emergency services department has established a hazard management team and has brought in specialised equipment that includes portable radiation survey meters to detect radiation levels across a 20-metre radius and which can be used from moving vehicles.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mining company 'sorry' for losing radioactive capsule in Western AustraliaThe solid, silver-coloured cylinder is smaller than a human fingernail but authorities say it could cause acute radiation sickness.
Read more »
Pro-Western Petr Pavel wins Czech presidential voteFormer army chief and high NATO official Petr Pavel has won the Czech Republic's presidential election with a pledge to keep the country firmly anchored in the West and bridge society's political differences.
Read more »
Search on for missing radioactive capsule in AustraliaAn urgent search is under way in Western Australia after a tiny radioactive capsule was reported to have gone missing while being transported from a mine
Read more »
Ukraine and Western allies in ‘fast-track’ talks about delivery of long-range missiles and military aircraftAttacks continued on Saturday when Russian missiles struck the city of Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine
Read more »
At least 51 killed in two Pakistan transport incidentsAt least 51 people were killed in two separate transport incidents in western Pakistan, when a bus plunged off a bridge and a boat carrying a class of children capsized.
Read more »
North West has just landed herself her first Hollywood film | Her.ieKim Kardashian''s eldest daughter North West has just bagged her first ever film role.
Read more »