The HCM City-based Apave Asia - Pacific Co. Ltd. on September 12 reported to police that the device containing Iridium-192 radioactive was missing.
The device containing sealed radioactive source of Iridium-192 was lost at an inn at the address of 521/67/60A Nguyen Dinh Khoi Street, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, HCM City.
This is equipment for non-destructive inspection (NDT). The Ir-192 radioactive source has activities of 20.5 Curie (Ci). In cases where the radioactive source is removed from the device, it would endanger the environment and people's health. Therefore, it is very urgent to find this piece of equipment.
Due to the dangerous nature of the incident, the Department of Science and Technology of HCM City issued an announcement on the search for the device.
In late afternoon on September 18, the police detected that a resident in Tan Phu District had the device. At 6pm, the police blockaded the house, located on a small alley on Vuon Lai Street. Experts from the HCM City Department of Science and Technology came within a short time to handle the device.
At 9pm, the device was removed from the house.
The house’s owner, a 20-year-old man, said that his friend – a worker – had given him the device and left. The police summoned relatives for investigation.
The house has now been locked. Locals said the young man, his wife and his brother-in-law had rented the house for only three days.
The police said that the radioactive device had been stolen.
