Rio Tinto Group is an Anglo-Australian multinational company that is the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation. Now, Rio Tinto has lost radioactive capsule during transport in Western Australia.
According to Bloomberg, mining behemoth Rio Tinto lost a radioactive capsule holding caesium-137 during transportation along a 1,400-kilometer (870-mile) length of highway in Western Australia.
“We are taking this incident very seriously … and recognize this is clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused in the Western Australian community,” Rio Tinto iron ore head Simon Trott said in a statement on Sunday.
A radiation warning was issued for areas of Western Australia last Friday by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA.
RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE RISK in parts of the Pilbara, Midwest Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands and Perth Metropolitan regions.
There is a radioactive substance risk in parts of the Pilbara, Midwest Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands and Perth Metropolitan regions.
A capsule containing a radioactive substance has been lost during transportation from north of Newman to the north-eastern suburbs of Perth. The substance is used within gauges in mining operations.
Devices that assess the density of iron ore employ the radioactive substance. On this map, you can see where the radioactive capsule went missing.
Caesium-137 exposure, according to emergency services, may result in “radiation burns or radiation sickness.” In addition, they uploaded an image of the capsule.
Emergency services said, “the gauge was unpacked for inspection. Upon opening the package, it was found that the gauge was broken apart with one of the four mounting bolts missing and the source itself and all screws on the gauge also missing.”
Previously, Serbia had cancelled a huge deal with Rio Tinto, the Australian firm, following the deportation of Novak Djokovic from Australia.
… and it is still unclear how the Caesium-137 disappeared during shipment.
They didn’t even mention “Stolen”.