A significant industrial area near Jakarta is undergoing emergency decontamination after authorities discovered radioactive material at multiple production facilities, including several involved in frozen seafood exports.
The investigation began when U.S. food safety officials identified traces of Caesium-137 in a shipment of frozen breaded shrimp from Indonesia. While the detected levels were below immediate health concern thresholds, authorities initiated a comprehensive review of the export facility and surrounding industrial complex.
Radiation scanning revealed contamination at 22 separate production plants within the industrial zone. The nuclear regulatory agency has launched immediate decontamination procedures at all affected sites.
As a precautionary measure, residents living in areas with higher contamination levels are being temporarily relocated. Health screenings conducted on workers and local residents identified nine individuals with detectable exposure to the radioactive isotope. All were medically evaluated and cleared to return home.
Officials indicated that imported scrap metal appears to be the likely source of the contamination. In response, the government is implementing immediate restrictions on scrap metal imports and conducting vehicle inspections throughout the affected region.
The contaminated shrimp products, which were distributed to retail locations across multiple U.S. states, have been voluntarily recalled from store shelves.
Caesium-137 typically enters the environment through nuclear testing or accidents and can pose cancer risks with long-term exposure, though authorities emphasize the current detection levels do not represent an immediate health threat.
