Australia's emergency services "literally found a needle in a haystack."

This happened after the radioactive capsule was lost during transportation along the 1,400 km long route.

The BBC writes about it.

The radioactive capsule with a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 8 mm belongs to the mining giant Rio Tinto.

It contains small amounts of cesium-137, which can cause skin damage, burns, or radiation sickness.

The capsule is part of a density measuring device used in the mining industry.

He was at Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine in Australia's remote Kimberley region.

The sensor was being transported by a subcontractor, who took it from the mine on January 12 to be transported to a storage facility in Perth's north-eastern suburbs.

When it was unpacked for inspection on January 25, it became clear that the sensor itself was broken, and the radioactive capsule was lost.

One of the four bolts and screws was also missing.

Australian authorities speculated that the bolts may have loosened during transport from road debris.

The capsule itself most likely fell through gaps in the hull and truck.

After the loss of the capsule, the search for it immediately began.

During the operation, the emergency service used special equipment, including radiation detectors.

The search area was huge, and the chances of finding it were almost zero.

It should be noted that the incident occurred at a time when Rio Tinto is trying to restore its reputation in Australia.

In 2020, Rio Tinto blasted ancient rock shelters in Western Australia's Juukan Gorge to expand an iron ore mine.

This led to loud protests, which led to the resignation of several senior executives of the company.

And last year, a parliamentary inquiry found that sexual harassment was widespread in Australia's mining industry.

Prior to this, an internal audit at Rio Tinto found that more than 20 women had been raped or attempted rape over a five-year period.

Read also:

  • How to save properly to have thousands of dollars at the end of the year: tips for the day, week and month

  • Not crows: scientists talked about "black clouds" and a mysterious cluster of birds in Kyiv

  • They waited for a child for 19 years: a long-awaited firstborn was born to a couple in Volyn (photo)