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Authorities in Australia say they have found a tiny radioactive capsule which went missing last week. The pea-sized device became the object of a huge search along a 1,400km (870-mile) route.

The capsule - which is 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter and 8mm long - contains a small quantity of Caesium-137, which could cause skin damage, burns or radiation sickness, if handled.

Mining giant Rio Tinto apologised for losing the device, which is used as a density gauge in the mining industry.

Stephen Dawson, Emergency services minister for Western Australia told Newshour, "it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack... we were searching an area the same size as the distance between London and Krakow in Poland."

A vehicle equipped with specialist equipment, which was travelling at 70km/h, detected radiation emitted by the capsule. Portable detection equipment was then used to locate the capsule, which was found about two metres from the side of the road.

"Many of us will sleep better tonight knowing it's been found," says Mr. Dawson.

(Photo: A radioactive capsule lying on the ground, near Newman, Australia, 1 February, 2023. Credit: Western Australian Department off Fire and Emergency Services/Reuters)

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