SERANG: The Indonesian government has restricted access for residents in the red zone affected by Cesium-137 radiation in the Cikande industrial area, Serang District, to protect public safety during the ongoing decontamination process, ANTARA reported.
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said on Tuesday that the measure is part of a zoning process carried out by a joint team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN).
“We conducted zoning related to potential radiation up to five kilometres. We will handle the red zone first, followed by the yellow zone,” he said, stressing that restrictions on movement are necessary to prevent direct exposure.
The response focuses on homes closest to the source of exposure.
“We only localise those nearby. Not all of them, just a few houses that need to be evacuated,” Nurofiq explained.
The joint team has marked dangerous areas with barriers and prohibition lines.
“The important thing is public understanding. This is being done by the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Defence Forces, and the National Police at these points,” he added.
Nurofiq also highlighted that the safe radiation threshold is below one microsievert per hour.
“The transmission distance will be safe when the figure reaches one microsievert. It should not exceed one microsievert per hour,” he said.
The minister emphasised that the public will continue to be informed about safety limits until the decontamination process is complete.
Earlier, Cesium-137 exposure was reportedly found in PT BMS’s frozen shrimp products exported to the United States, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Last September, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan confirmed that the contamination occurred only in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate and did not affect the national supply chain or other exports. – BERNAMA
