Serang (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Environment Ministry has announced that all sites previously contaminated with Cesium‑137 in Barengkok Village, Cikande, Serang District, have been declared safe following extensive mitigation and decontamination efforts.

One residential property, however, remains under investigation after new traces of contamination were detected.

Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Rasio Ridho Sani said in Serang City that his team had completed decontamination work at 22 factories and 12 affected points across the area.

“All locations contaminated by Cesium‑137, both inside and outside the factories, have been fully decontaminated and declared safe—except for one house in Barengkok Village, which we refer to as the F2 location,” he said.

The house, known locally as the “blue house,” continues to show signs of contamination.

Rasio said the ministry, together with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), and technical teams, is conducting further inspections.

“We are working intensively to identify the radiation source found in that house,” he added.

Rasio confirmed that residents who had been evacuated earlier have now returned home.

He said all other previously affected zones, including the F and F2 areas, had been fully cleared, with radiation levels dropping sharply.

“The initial finding was 2,000 microsieverts. Our latest measurement was around 0.03 to 0.04 microsieverts, which is very safe,” he said.

All contaminated materials—scrap, soil, and other waste—have been moved to a temporary storage facility operated by PT PMT.

BRIN is currently assessing a site for permanent interim storage. The total volume of waste is still being verified but is estimated to exceed 1,100 tons.

The ministry is also awaiting further action from the police regarding allegations that 200 kilograms of radioactive material were stolen.

Rasio said the ministry could not comment on the case until the investigation is complete.

He noted that the PT PMT warehouse being used for temporary storage remains under police scrutiny.

“PT PMT is currently being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department.

The location is under investigation, but we are using it for temporary storage,” he said.

The ministry aims to complete decontamination at the remaining F2 house soon so the entire area can be fully restored to safe conditions.

Translator: Devi Nindy Sari Ramadhan, Primayanti
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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