A state of emergency has been enacted in Khabarovsk, a city in southeast Russia, following the detection of nuclear contamination at a local specialized plant known as Radon.
Despite containing the source of radiation, officials plan to maintain emergency protocols in the Industrialny district for an additional three days to further investigate the cause of the contamination.
The incident came to light when a man equipped with a radiation reader and protective gear recorded alarming levels of radiation near a waste dump.
His device alarmed at 0.45 microsieverts but displayed readings as high as 5.99 microsieverts, and he noted experiencing levels of up to 20 microsieverts on his video.
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This amount is high enough to potentially increase cancer risks and cause other severe health issues.
It took approximately a week for the situation to prompt governmental action, even though initial reports of the elevated radiation were made to Russian special services on March 28.
The delayed response has sparked concern among the residents and broader community.
Andrey Kolchin, the head of civil defense for the city, confirmed that an area was cordoned off following the discovery of the radiation source.
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The decision to declare a state of emergency was aimed at expediting the containment and investigative processes.
Authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to human health or the environment, as the radioactive material has been securely stored away at a waste facility.
The city of Khabarovsk, with a population of 630,000 and located near the Chinese border, remains on high alert while officials continue to monitor and address the situation.
This recent scare has evoked memories of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, underscoring the persistent risks associated with nuclear energy and the importance of swift and transparent responses to such emergencies.
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