October 5, 2025 | 12:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Task Force for Mitigation and Contamination Handling of Radiation Sources discovered and evacuated two large bags and six drums with high levels of cesium-137 radiation in the Modern Industrial Area of Cikande, Serang, Banten. Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol stated in a written statement on Friday, October 3, 2025, "They have been successfully secured."
Hanif said that the items were found at one of the contaminated points named Location F. The task force found approximately two large bags of material and six high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drums with high levels of radiation. Task Force I is part of the task force handling the danger of radiation from cesium-137 led by the Minister Coordinator for Food, Zulfikli Hasan.
Until October 2, 2025, the task force has removed a total of 20 drums, 17 large bags, and three pallets from the contaminated areas, namely locations A and F. Hanif ensured that the process of lifting and transporting the contaminated material would continue until all areas exposed to cesium-137 are declared clean.
The heavy equipment is used for the transportation and evacuation of materials with high radiation levels. These items are then transferred to temporary storage facilities.
The transfer of these materials is part of the decontamination process in the industrial area. Hanif guaranteed that the transport compartment walls of the radiation source-carrying trucks are lined with lead metal plates. The aim is to prevent radiation exposure to the environment and truck drivers carrying the source of radiation.
Hanif mentioned that throughout the decontamination process in locations A and F, the task force was guided by Radiation Protection Officers (RPOs) from the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency to ensure the safety of workers from excessive radiation exposure.
The government also involved a police mobile brigade to oversee every vehicle entering and leaving the industrial area. According to Hanif, the supervision is conducted to ensure that no vehicles carry radiation traces out of the area.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health stated that they have examined 1,562 workers who are active in the industrial area and the surrounding areas within a five-kilometer radius. Individuals indicated to have been exposed to radiation have been given prussian blue medicine as an antidote to remove Cesium-137 from the body.
Hanif ensured that the task force will continue the ongoing decontamination activities in all identified exposure points to ensure no sources of radiation are overlooked, including remapping the exposed areas.
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