Radioactive capsule recovered

PERTH: Australian authorities yesterday found a radioactive capsule smaller than a coin that was lost in the vast Outback after nearly a weeklong search along a 1400km stretch of highway, officials said.

The Caesium137 capsule was discovered when a vehicle travelling at 70kmh equipped with specialist detection equipment picked up the radiation, according to Western Australia state officials.

The search team then used portable detection equipment to find the capsule, which was located about 2m from the side of the road, they added.

‘‘I do want to emphasise this is an extraordinary result,’’ Western Australia Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said.

‘‘When you consider the scope of the research area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search groups have quite literally found the needle in the haystack,’’ Dawson said.

The military was verifying the capsule and it would be taken to a secure facility in Perth today.

Staff from Western Australia’s emergency response department, defence authorities, radiation specialists and others have been combing the stretch of highway for the tiny capsule that was lost in transit more than two weeks ago. The radioactive capsule was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed from Rio Tinto’s GudaiDarri mine in the state’s remote Kimberley region.

Officials said the capsule apparently fell off a truck and landed on the side of the road, adding it was unlikely there will be contamination in the area.

The silver capsule, 6mm in diameter and 8mm long, contains Caesium137 which emits radiation equal to 10 Xrays per hour.

Western Australia chief health officer Andrew Robertson said there would be an investigation and prosecutions would be considered.