Photograph by tamasrepus
Alerts have been issued after a white Volkswagon truck containing “extremely dangerous” radioactive material was stolen at a petrol station in Mexico on Monday.
The truck was heading to a radioactive waste disposal utility when it was stolen by a group of thieves. It contained a radiotherapy source from a hospital in Tijuana in northern Mexico, and was stolen near Mexico City.
Mexico’s Nuclear safety group, CNSNS, issued alerts to federal, state, and local authorities on Tuesday for the Volkswagon Worker truck with a license plate 726-DT-8. The truck is also equipped with a crane to move its cargo.
When it was stolen, the cobalt-60 teletherapy source was “properly shielded” according to reports, but officials have warned the thieves about the possible damage to their own health if this shielding deteriorates or the radioactive source is removed.
Mexican officials have informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the theft.
