MINSK, 14 June (BelTA) – The radiation background in the Chernobyl-impact area in Belarus has not changed due to a smoke reported at Power Unit Three of the plant on 13 June, BelTA learned from Deputy Head of the Radiation and Environmental Monitoring Service of the National Center on Hydrometeorology, Radiation Pollution Control and Environmental Monitoring Elena Bogodyazh.
In her words, Belarus uses an automatic radiation control system in the Chernboyl-impact zone. There are automatic gamma-radiation intensity measurement points there. “According to the observation data, the readings of the measurement devices have not changed within the past 24 hours. Despite this fact, however, the radiation observation system has been switched into a high-alert regime. The situation is under control,” the Gidromet representative said.
The high-alert regime will stay in place for several more days until specialists are confident that the radiation background is within the admissible limits. A number of measurements have already been made since yesterday.
Ukraine's nuclear regulatory body reported smoke at room 509 of Power Unit Three at 15:57 pm. At 16:00 the smoke was liquidated. It was also reported that household waste, and not radioactive products, caught fire. The radiation background has not changed.
