Russia declares ‘state of emergency’ after radiation leak with potentially lethal contamination detected in Khabarovsk

A RUSSIAN city declared a state of emergency today after a mystery radiation leak.

High radiation levels were found near a pylon just 1.5 miles away from homes in Khabarovsk, according to reports.

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Authorities cordoned off the area on Friday - but the source of the potentially lethal radiation leak is not known and has not been made public.

Andrey Kolchin, the Head of Civil Defence in the city, said: "A source of increased radiation levels was discovered… the area was cordoned. 

"It was decided to introduce a state of emergency in Khabarovsk to carry out work faster."

Authorities said the source of radiation was "removed and placed in a protective container" and taken to a radioactive waste storage facility.

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But a state of emergency will remain in place for at least three more days as law enforcement agencies monitor radiation levels and probe the cause.

But it appears to have taken a week for authorities in the city to act on reports of a leak.

A youngster is said to have reported a high radiation reading to the city's authorities on March 28.

But a state of emergency was only declared on April 5 - just over a week later.

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Footage also emerged showing a man wearing a nuclear protective mask and holding a radiation reader.

The reader quickly rose as he walked over what was described as a "waste dump".

It sounded an alarm at 0.45 microsieverts - the unit that measures radiation - and the highest reading visible on the screen was 5.99.

But the man was heard saying there was a reading of 20 - enough to potentially increase the risk of cancer, damage DNA, damage foetuses and threaten the health of children.

It was decided to introduce a state of emergency in Khabarovsk to carry out work faster

Andrey KolchinHead of Civil Defence

Russia's consumer safety watchdog said no one has been injured so far or exposed to radiation - and "there is no threat to the health of citizens", according to TASS news agency.

A source at Radon Nuclear Agency said: "The radiation source was removed and placed in a protective container, transported to a radioactive waste storage facility.

"There is no environmental pollution and no threat to society."