Bangkok (VNA) – Thai officials announced that theyhad found a cylinder of Caesium-137 that went missing from a power plant in SriMaha Pho district at a steel foundry in Prachinburi province, 150km east ofBangkok, reported The Nation newspaper.
Ronnarong Nakornjinda, Governor of Prachinburi province, said that during the inspection of steel factoriesin the province on March 19, officials detected readings of radioactivity atthe province’s largest steel foundry, in Kabin Buri district. The readings camefrom scrap metal that had been compressed into cubes ready to be smelted.
Officials ordered the foundry to halt operations and allemployees were asked to leave the facility.
A perimeter has been set up to bar access tooutsiders. An initial investigation of smelted material at the foundryfound traces of Caesium-137, he said.
According to Ronnarong, Caesium-137 has a half-life of about30 years and remains in the environment for 300 years. He warned that touching the radioactivematerial can harm the skin, liver and bone marrow.
Last week, the provincial administration set up a command centreto search for the cylinder and handle any fallout from the incident.
The province also announced a 50,000-baht (1,500 USD) rewardfor those who provide information leading to its recovery./.
