In Thailand, a container with extremely radioactive content material has disappeared with out a hint. The metal cylinder with harmful caesium-137 got here from a steam energy plant within the province of Prachin Buri within the east of the nation.
He has in all probability been lacking because the finish of February, however the operators solely alerted the police final Friday, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported, citing the authorities. The radioisotope is utilized in industrial measuring gadgets, amongst different issues.
The equal of a 1,400 euro reward
A reward of fifty,000 Thai baht (about 1,400 euros) has been provided for data on the whereabouts of the container, which weighs round 25 kilograms, mentioned the top of the province’s public well being companies, Surin Suebsueng. “If you find anything that looks like the cesium-137 cylinder, please inform the authorities. Stay away and don’t try to open it,” Suebsueng mentioned.
A particular crew has been set as much as monitor doable circumstances of sickness attributable to the radioactive substance. However, no such case has been found to this point.
Lost in transit
While authorities initially pursued a doable theft, it’s now mentioned that the cylinder could have been misplaced in transit to a different location. Among different issues, a search was made for the container at scrap sellers within the space.
In late January, a radioactive capsule fell off a truck whereas being transported from a mine to a depot in Western Australia. Experts and emergency companies searched feverishly for days for the pod, which additionally contained cesium-137. Eventually, the tiny capsule was discovered on the aspect of the street within the outback. Nobody received damage.
Source: www.nationalturk.com