Australia recovers lost radioactive capsule

This picture on Wednesday shows the site where the (inset) capsule was found along a desert highway south of Newman, Western Australia. Pics/AFP

Australian authorities on Wednesday found a radioactive capsule smaller than a coin that was lost in the vast Outback after nearly a week-long search involving around 100 people along a 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) stretch of highway, officials said.

The Caesium-137 capsule lost in transit more than two weeks ago was discovered when a vehicle travelling at 70 kms per hour equipped with specialist detection equipment picked up the radiation, according to officials from the state of Western Australia.

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The search team then used portable detection equipment to find the capsule, which was located about 2 metres from the side of the road in a remote area far from any community, they added.

Western Australia's Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said, "When you consider the scope of the search area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search groups have quite literally found the needle in the haystack."

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