Brussels, 29/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 29 August, the European Commission announced it had received an alert from the Belgian authorities during the evening of 28 August regarding a radiological incident. There had been a release of gaseous Iodine-131 from the Institut National de Radio-élément (IRE) located in Fleurus. Measures have been taken to contain the leak.
To sound the alarm, Belgian authorities used the ECURIE system (European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange), as they were under a requirement to do in accordance with Decision 87/600/Euratom (Council decision of 14 December 1987 concerning Community arrangements for the early notification and exchange of information in the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency).
The European Commission immediately passed on the alert notification to all member states and Switzerland, which then keep the Commission informed at regular intervals of the protective measures that they intend to adopt if necessary and the levels of radioactivity recorded.
The nuclear incident in Fleurus is classified Level 3 on the international INES (International Nuclear Event Scale); comprising 7 steps.
On the basis of the analysis of environmental samples in the affected area, the Belgian authorities (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control) have now decided to implement protective actions, in particular restrictions on the consumption of local food produce (vegetables and milk) up to a distance of 5 km. (A.N./transl.jl)