Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq announced on Friday that the Task Force for Handling Cesium-137 Radiation Hazards has partnered with the Indonesian Army’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Engineering Detachment (Denzi Nubika) to support the operation.
The effort also involves the National Police’s Bomb Squad (Gegana), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), and the Ministry of Environment.
“Three hundred personnel will be deployed on Saturday to accelerate the response. Ten locations will be decontaminated simultaneously,” Nurofiq stated.
To prevent further exposure, BRIN has established zoning protocols, dividing the industrial estate and surrounding areas into red and yellow zones. The red zone is strictly off-limits to the public.
Nurofiq added that the Task Force is currently assessing households affected by the zoning measures, which are part of the intensified decontamination strategy.
Previously, the Task Force sealed off PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), located within the estate, which is suspected to be the source of radioactive contamination linked to frozen shrimp products exported by PT BMS to the United States.
In terms of public health response, the Ministry of Health is overseeing community-level interventions. Around 1,500 individuals associated with the two affected companies have been advised to undergo independent health screenings.
To date, the Ministry has tested 1,591 workers and residents from the impacted sites. Nine individuals tested positive for Cs-137 exposure and were referred to Fatmawati General Hospital. All have since been discharged in stable condition.
They were treated with Prussian Blue, a medical antidote that helps remove Cs-137 radionuclides from the body.
Related news: Four business sites undergo decontamination following Cs-137 exposure
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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