British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto apologized Monday after losing a small but dangerously radioactive capsule that went missing while being transported by truck from a mine in Western Australia and had not been found since mid-January.
The 8mm by 6mm silver capsule, used in mining operations, contains a radioactive substance, Cesium-137, according to the Western Australia Department of Health.
Rescue services said it was lost while being transported by truck from a mine near the remote town of Newman to the northern suburbs of Perth, a distance of some 1,400km.
“We recognize that this situation is clearly very concerning and we regret the concern it has caused in the Western Australian community,” Simon Trott, chief executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, said in a statement sent to AFP.
“We have launched our own investigation to understand how the capsule could have been lost,” he added.
Warning against manipulation
The radioactive capsule, which is part of an indicator used in the mining industry to measure the density of iron ore, was transported by a certified Rio Tinto contractor, it said.
The health authorities, who alerted to the situation for the first time on Friday, warned against any manipulation of this object that could cause burns or acute radiation syndrome and recommended staying less than five meters away.
A fire department spokesman said last week that populated areas are being searched for the pod first, but it could take weeks.
Authorities were alerted to the disappearance on Wednesday after the company responsible for the capsule became aware of its disappearance, he added.
Source: BFM TV
