A radioactive capsule has been found that fell from a truck in the Australian outback, prompting a radiation alert and a search of hundreds of miles of road.
Western Australia’s emergency services minister said the silver capsule, which emits the isotope Cesium-137, had been located about two meters from the roadside.
Authorities were looking for the 6mm by 8mm capsule and were tracking the truck’s 870-mile (1,400 km) route with radiation-scanning equipment.
The capsule was being checked by the military and was to be taken to a secure facility in Perth.
Minister Stephen Dawson called it an “extraordinary result”.
“When you consider the scope of the research area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search parties literally found the needle in the haystack,” he said.
The capsule was found when a vehicle with scanning equipment picked up radiation while passing at about 70 km/h (43 mph).
People had been warned about possible radiation burns or illness if they got close to the capsule.
Driving further was described as much lower risk, similar to having an X-ray.
Fortunately, it was discovered far from any community and it was unlikely that anyone would have been exposed to its radiation, Western said. AustraliaAndrew Robertson’s chief health officer.
The search for the capsule was described as a needle in a haystack scenario.
The search area covered hundreds of miles of highway
The capsule is owned by the mining company Rio Tinto and is part of a meter used to measure the density of iron ore.
Vibrations during shipping are believed to have caused screws and a bolt to loosen from the indicator, allowing it to fall off.
The search area was wide, with the truck covering a distance greater than Britain on its journey from the Gudai-Darri mine in the remote Kimberley region to suburban Perth.
Police, the defense department and Australia’s nuclear safety agency were involved after the capsule was reported missing on January 25.
An investigation will analyze the handling of the meter and the capsule in the mine.
They had been driving the state’s Great North Highway, as well as other sections of the route used by the road train, a truck that pulls several trailers.
About 410 miles (660 km) had been searched Tuesday.
Rio Tinto, which handed over the capsule to another company for transport, apologized for the “very worrying” incident and said it had launched its own investigation.
Authorities are investigating on their own but under 1975 state law the fine for mishandling radioactive substances is currently just A$1,000, and A$50 per day if the offense continues.
“That number is ridiculously low,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“But I suspect it’s ridiculously low because people didn’t think such an item could be lost.”
Police have considered filing possible criminal charges, but have concluded there is no case to answer.
