State of emergency declared in Russian city due to nuclear contamination
- In Reports
- 09:20 PM, Apr 05, 2024
- Myind Staff
Russia has announced a "state of emergency" in Khabarovsk, a city located in the southeastern region of the country along the Amur River, following the detection of a mysterious radiation leak with potential cancer-causing effects. Access to Khabarovsk, particularly its industrial district, has been restricted by local authorities. This development has attracted significant global attention, with many drawing comparisons to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986, which occurred in the former Soviet Union. The source of the radiation in Khabarovsk has been identified. Situated near the border with China, Khabarovsk has a population of 630,000.
According to a report from the Russian news agency TASS, increased levels of radiation were detected close to a power pylon approximately 2.5 kilometers away from residential areas. The report further stated that the origin of the radiation has been located.
The origin of the radiation was "extracted and secured in a protective container" before being "transported to a facility designated for storing radioactive waste."
The local branch of Russia's consumer safety watchdog assured that no individuals had been harmed or exposed to radiation, emphasising that "there is no risk to the health of the citizens."
According to Metro, videos circulating on social media depict a man wearing a nuclear protective mask equipped with a radiation detector. As the man walks over a "waste dump," the meter on the device registers a rapid increase in radiation levels.
The individual captured on camera reportedly stated that the reading on the meter was 20, which is potentially sufficient to elevate the risk of cancer, harm DNA, cause fetal damage, and pose health threats to children, as per the outlet's report.
Officials stated that radiation levels will be under surveillance for the following 48 hours, and an investigation into the origin of the radiation will be conducted.
Image Source: Daily Mail
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