The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack".

The announcement of the loss sparked a frantic search since last week, stoking unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres in the sparsely populated West Australian region.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/radiation-alert-in-australia-as-hunt-for-lost-caesium-137-mining-capsule-on-how-can-it-hurt-you-556727">Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing</a>

"It's a good result, as I've said it's certainly a needle in a haystack that has been found, and I think West Australians can sleep better tonight," West Australian emergency services minister Stephen Dawson told reporters.

Who found the radioactive capsule?

The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Australia's missing radioactive capsule: What happened?

An urgent public warning was issued after the Caesium-137 capsule was reported missing on January 25. It was reported that the capsule apparently fell off a truck transporting&nbsp;it from a Rio Tinto mine to Perth, a 1400-kilometre stretch.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/radioactive-capsule-lost-in-western-australia-along-1400-km-route-authorities-issue-health-warning-556939">Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route</a>

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It vanished between January 11 and January 16, but its loss was not reported for more than a week, local media reported.

What is the radioactive capsule like?

According to reports, the now found&nbsp;capsule measures&nbsp;6mm in diameter by 8mm in height. it is used in mining equipment but can lead to dangerously high doses of radiation if mishandled.

Western Australians were warned of the dangerous misplaced capsule in a press conference held late on Friday afternoon.

The state's Chief Health Officer&nbsp;Andy Robertson warned at the time it could be anywhere between Perth and the Pilbara, an area stretching for 1,400 kilometres.

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The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack".

The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack". The announcement of the loss sparked a frantic search since last week, stoking unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres in the sparsely populated West Australian region. ALSO READ | Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing "It's a good result, as I've said it's certainly a needle in a haystack that has been found, and I think West Australians can sleep better tonight," West Australian emergency services minister Stephen Dawson told reporters. Who found the radioactive capsule? The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Australia's missing radioactive capsule: What happened? An urgent public warning was issued after the Caesium-137 capsule was reported missing on January 25. It was reported that the capsule apparently fell off a truck transporting it from a Rio Tinto mine to Perth, a 1400-kilometre stretch. ALSO WATCH | Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route × It vanished between January 11 and January 16, but its loss was not reported for more than a week, local media reported. What is the radioactive capsule like? According to reports, the now found capsule measures 6mm in diameter by 8mm in height. it is used in mining equipment but can lead to dangerously high doses of radiation if mishandled. Western Australians were warned of the dangerous misplaced capsule in a press conference held late on Friday afternoon. The state's Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson warned at the time it could be anywhere between Perth and the Pilbara, an area stretching for 1,400 kilometres. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Missing coin-sized radioactive capsule found in Australia

Australia's nuclear safety agency, on Tuesday, announced that it was joining the hunt for the small radioactive capsule, which a few days ago went missing in the west of the country.

In a statement, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said it would work in conjunction with the Western Australia government to locate the capsule.

Watch |&nbsp;Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning

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The capsule which contains Caesium-137, a radioactive material used in mining, as per Reuters, could have gone missing around two weeks ago.

It was reportedly part of a gauge that is used to measure iron ore feed density and had been entrusted to a specialist contractor for transportation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rio-tinto-issues-apology-for-losing-radioactive-capsule-in-western-australia-557330">Rio Tinto issues apology for losing radioactive capsule in Western Australia</a>

Searching for the lost radioactive material is daunting because the small capsule was lost somewhere along the 1,400-kilometre-long path the truck took.&nbsp;

Finding it along the long path from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Great Britain is nothing short of 'finding a needle in a haystack'.

Authorities have warned that people should not come in contact with the capsule.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/radiation-alert-in-australia-as-hunt-for-lost-caesium-137-mining-capsule-on-how-can-it-hurt-you-556727/amp">Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing, here's HOW it can hurt you</a>

The public was first alerted about the missing radioactive material on Friday. Announcing it, Western Australia's chief health officer Andrew Robertson had warned, "if you have it long enough near you, it could cause what is known as acute radiation sickness."&nbsp;

Experts have recommended that people should stay at least five metres away from the capsule, which, on an hourly basis, emits beta and gamma rays that have radiation levels equal to about 10 X-Rays.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Australia's nuclear safety agency, on Tuesday, announced that it was joining the hunt for the small radioactive capsule, which a few days ago went missing in the west of the country.

Australia's nuclear safety agency, on Tuesday, announced that it was joining the hunt for the small radioactive capsule, which a few days ago went missing in the west of the country. In a statement, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said it would work in conjunction with the Western Australia government to locate the capsule. Watch | Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning The capsule which contains Caesium-137, a radioactive material used in mining, as per Reuters, could have gone missing around two weeks ago. It was reportedly part of a gauge that is used to measure iron ore feed density and had been entrusted to a specialist contractor for transportation. Also read | Rio Tinto issues apology for losing radioactive capsule in Western Australia Searching for the lost radioactive material is daunting because the small capsule was lost somewhere along the 1,400-kilometre-long path the truck took. Finding it along the long path from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Great Britain is nothing short of 'finding a needle in a haystack'. Authorities have warned that people should not come in contact with the capsule. Also read | Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing, here's HOW it can hurt you The public was first alerted about the missing radioactive material on Friday. Announcing it, Western Australia's chief health officer Andrew Robertson had warned, "if you have it long enough near you, it could cause what is known as acute radiation sickness." Experts have recommended that people should stay at least five metres away from the capsule, which, on an hourly basis, emits beta and gamma rays that have radiation levels equal to about 10 X-Rays. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia's nuclear safety agency joins the hunt for missing radioactive capsule

Rio Tinto, the mining giant issued an apology on Monday (January 30) after a tiny radioactive capsule got lost, which caused panic and sparked a radiation alert across parts of the state of Western Australia. The loss of the device is believed to have taken place up to two weeks ago.&nbsp;

Authorities have launched an emergency search for the device. The device is reportedly about the size of a pea and can be located along the 1,400km route.&nbsp;

It is said that the radioactive capsule was lost after it apparently fell from a truck. News agencies have reported that the device was part of the gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed. The responsibility for the transport was given to a specialist contractor.&nbsp;

Simon Trott, who is Rio's iron ore division chief, said in a statement: "We are taking this incident very seriously. We recognise this is clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused in the Western Australian community."&nbsp;

The task to locate the device is next to impossible as the search area is massive—from north of Newman to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth. Still, the authorities are confident that they will soon find it.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hongkongers-urge-suella-braverman-to-reconsider-repressive-anti-protest-bill-557254">Hongkongers urge Suella Braverman to reconsider ‘repressive’ anti-protest bill</a>&nbsp;

Andrew Stuchbery, who runs the department of Nuclear Physics &amp; Accelerator Applications at the Australian National University, said that the task is "not impossible" as searchers are equipped with radiation detectors&nbsp;

He said, "That's like if you dangled a magnet over a haystack, it's going to give you more of a chance."&nbsp;

He further added, "If the source just happened to be lying in the middle of the road you might get lucky...It's quite radioactive so if you get close to it, it will stick out."&nbsp;

<h2>How the radioactive capsule was lost?&nbsp;</h2>

This year on January 12, the gauge was picked up from Rio's Gudai-Darri mine site, but when it was opened for inspection on January 25, it was found broken apart.&nbsp;

Reports mentioned that one of four mounting bolts was missing and screws from the gauge were also not there.

It is suspected that the screws and the bolt could have become loose because of the vibrations from the truck, and the radioactive capsule from the gauge might have fallen out of the package and then out of a gap in the truck.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning&nbsp;

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What the device is capable of doing?&nbsp;

News agency Reuters reported that the silver capsule is about six millimetres in diameter and eight millimetres long. It contains Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour.&nbsp;

Authorities have recommended people stay at least five metres (16.5 feet) away as exposure could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness, though they add that the risk to the general community is relatively low.&nbsp;

Authorities in the region have asked the resident to stay at least five metres away. The exposure can cause radiation burns or radiation sickness. However, the authorities have also said that the risk to the general community is relatively low.&nbsp;

Stuchbery said, "From what I have read, if you drive past it, the risk is equivalent to an X-ray. But if you stand next to it or you handle it, it could be very dangerous."&nbsp;

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Rio Tinto, the mining giant issued an apology on Monday (January 30) after a tiny radioactive capsule got lost, which caused panic and sparked a radiation alert across parts of the state of Western Australia.

Rio Tinto, the mining giant issued an apology on Monday (January 30) after a tiny radioactive capsule got lost, which caused panic and sparked a radiation alert across parts of the state of Western Australia. The loss of the device is believed to have taken place up to two weeks ago. Authorities have launched an emergency search for the device. The device is reportedly about the size of a pea and can be located along the 1,400km route. It is said that the radioactive capsule was lost after it apparently fell from a truck. News agencies have reported that the device was part of the gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed. The responsibility for the transport was given to a specialist contractor. Simon Trott, who is Rio's iron ore division chief, said in a statement: "We are taking this incident very seriously. We recognise this is clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused in the Western Australian community." The task to locate the device is next to impossible as the search area is massive—from north of Newman to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth. Still, the authorities are confident that they will soon find it. ALSO READ | Hongkongers urge Suella Braverman to reconsider ‘repressive’ anti-protest bill Andrew Stuchbery, who runs the department of Nuclear Physics & Accelerator Applications at the Australian National University, said that the task is "not impossible" as searchers are equipped with radiation detectors He said, "That's like if you dangled a magnet over a haystack, it's going to give you more of a chance." He further added, "If the source just happened to be lying in the middle of the road you might get lucky...It's quite radioactive so if you get close to it, it will stick out." How the radioactive capsule was lost? This year on January 12, the gauge was picked up from Rio's Gudai-Darri mine site, but when it was opened for inspection on January 25, it was found broken apart. Reports mentioned that one of four mounting bolts was missing and screws from the gauge were also not there. It is suspected that the screws and the bolt could have become loose because of the vibrations from the truck, and the radioactive capsule from the gauge might have fallen out of the package and then out of a gap in the truck. WATCH | Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning × ALSO READ | China's Sichuan province allows unmarried people to legally have children What the device is capable of doing? News agency Reuters reported that the silver capsule is about six millimetres in diameter and eight millimetres long. It contains Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour. Authorities have recommended people stay at least five metres (16.5 feet) away as exposure could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness, though they add that the risk to the general community is relatively low. Authorities in the region have asked the resident to stay at least five metres away. The exposure can cause radiation burns or radiation sickness. However, the authorities have also said that the risk to the general community is relatively low. Stuchbery said, "From what I have read, if you drive past it, the risk is equivalent to an X-ray. But if you stand next to it or you handle it, it could be very dangerous." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rio Tinto issues apology for losing radioactive capsule in Western Australia