Ashdod port evacuated following discovery of radioactive material in a container

Port workers were evacuated from Israel’s Ashdod port yesterday when radioactive material was discovered in a container onboard a Chinese vessel.

Environmental Protection Ministry officials stressed that there was no threat to the area.
“At the instruction of the Environmental Protection Ministry, the container was transferred to an insulated area at the Ashdod Port,” a statement from the ministry said. “There is no risk to the public.”

The port returned to normal operations in the early afternoon.

The local port authority said in a statement that the offending piece of metal contained “minimal levels” of radioactive material.