The tiny, potentially lethal radioactive capsule that was lost in transit on a truck from a mine owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has been found in Australia.
The search for the capsule had begun in mid-January.
"A needle has been found in a haystack and I believe people in Western Australia will be able to sleep better tonight," Australian State Emergency Services chief Steve Dawson told reporters.
The 8mm by 6mm silver capsule used in mining operations contains a radioactive substance, Cesium-137, which authorities say can cause acute radiation.
Finding it seemed impossible: the authorities looked for it everywhere, on hundreds of kilometers of highway. Eventually it was located on the side of a deserted road south of the town of Newman, not too far from the mine. One of the mobilized vehicles detected radiation while traveling along the highway.
Authorities are now working to recover her safely before taking her to a safe location.
(Unioneonline/D)
