Jakarta (ANTARA) –
The Coordinating Ministry for Food announced the end of the emergency response phase for cesium-137 radioactive contamination at the Modern Cikande industrial area in Serang, Banten.
“The emergency response phase for the Cesium-137 (CS-137) contamination has been completed,” the ministry’s Expert Staff to the Minister for Digital Transformation and Inter-Agency Relations, Bara Krishna Hasibuan, informed in Jakarta on Monday.
Bara, who is also the Head of the Diplomacy and Communications Division of the CS-137 Response Task Force, said the integrated efforts across ministries and agencies over the past year have shown significant results in environmental recovery, public health protection, and strengthening food security for international trading partners.
He explained that the main goals of the CS-137 response include continuous radiation surveys, decontamination, and environmental monitoring within the Modern Cikande industrial area within a 5-kilometer radius.
“Based on inspections on September 24, 2026, of 12 previously affected locations, the radiation dose was recorded below the threshold and no new contamination was found,” Bara conveyed.
Thus, the area was declared under control, allowing industrial activities to return to normal.
He added that the Health Ministry had examined 9,950 people, with 11 detected as having internal CS-137 contamination.
Those found to be contaminated received Prussian Blue treatment, an antidote for radioactive cesium, and underwent health monitoring, with their condition reported to be good.
“To date, no new cases have been found. The government continues to strengthen public health screening and monitoring facilities on an ongoing basis,” Bara ensured.
Although the emergency phase has ended, the CS-137 Handling Task Force ensures that follow-up measures will continue according to the authority of each agency.
The CS-137 contamination originated at a smelting facility owned by PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT).
The source of exposure came from scrap metal containing radioactive materials. During smelting, radioactive particles became airborne and were carried by air to several locations across the industrial area.
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Translator: Putu Indah S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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