An urgent search was underway in Western Australia on Saturday after a tiny radioactive capsule was reported to have gone missing while being transported from a mine.
Fire and emergency services said the capsule was lost between the remote town of Newman and the suburbs of northern Perth, a distance of about 1,400 kilometers .
Officials have warned the public not to handle the capsule if found and to contact emergency services. "The concern is someone will pick it up not knowing what they are dealing with," said Dr Andrew Robertson, chief health officer for Western Australia. A fire service spokesman said they are prioritizing populated areas during the search, which could take weeks.
Authorities were only alerted on Wednesday after the company responsible for the capsule realized it was missing, he added.
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