Radioactive Capsule: In a bizarre incident, Australian authorities engaged more than 100 people to find a pea-sized capsule on a 1,400 km-long highway. According to officials, the capsule was no ordinary and could have emitted a dangerous amount of radiation equivalent to receiving 10 X-rays in an hour.
It contains a cesium 137 ceramic source, commonly used in radiation gauges, which emits dangerous amounts of radiation. It can cause skin burns and prolonged exposure can cause cancer. Thankfully the capsule was found. So, what happened to such a deadly capsule?
According to Australian authorities, the dangerous radioactive capsule fell off a truck last month while being carried along a 1,400-kilometer Outback Highway. The truck carrying the capsule arrived at Perth Depot on 16 January. Emergency services were notified of the capsule’s disappearance on 25 January.
Over 100 people engaged in search operation for over 6 days
Since the capsule was fatal, the authorities deployed more than 100 search parties, which spent six days combing the entire highway. The capsule measures 8 millimeters by 6 millimeters (0.31 in by 0.24 in), and people have been warned that it could inadvertently become lodged in their car tyres.
Fortunately, authorities in Western Australia recovered the tiny capsule on Wednesday. An official said the search operation is like finding a needle in a haystack. Authorities said the pea-sized capsule was found on the Great Northern Highway south of the mining town of Newman.
It was detected by a probe traveling at 70 kilometers (43 mi) per hour when specialist equipment picked up radiation from the capsule. Portable search equipment was then used to search 2 meters (6.5 ft) from the edge of the road.
no injuries reported
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said, “This is an extraordinary result … They really have found a needle in a haystack.”
Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said the capsule did not appear to be moving and there were no reports of injuries.
Meanwhile, Simon Trott, chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto Iron Ore, has apologized for the incident and expressed his gratitude for the discovery.
“When you think about the distances involved and the remoteness of the terrain, that’s a pretty incredible recovery, and I think it really speaks to the tenacity of everyone who was involved in the search,” Trott said. were.”
(with inputs from AP)