Firefighters have completed their operation in Siedlce (Wolsztyn district, Wielkopolska province), where various chemical substances were discovered on Friday on the premises of one of the properties. Ultimately, rescuers secured one object that was a source of radiation and almost 200 samples of chemicals.
The services arrived in Siedlce (Wielkopolska Province) on Friday morning. Initial reports indicated that there may be hazardous radioactive waste on a private property. Specialized fire brigades from Poznań and Leszno arrived on site to verify the information and determine what was actually there.
Already on Friday, the spokesman for the Wolsztyn police assured that this was not about any industrial waste, which usually occurs in large quantities, but about small radioactive materials scattered in various places and containers, such as bottles.
The firefighters' actions ended on the night from Friday to Saturday. – Our firefighters from chemical units checked each of the revealed bottles and packages. Eventually, almost 200 samples were collected and handed over to the police – said junior asp. Martin Halasz, press officer of the Greater Poland State Fire Service. – One of the items that was found there was checked by firefighters, and it did indeed emit radioactive radiation, but it did not pose a significant threat to the local residents. People who are directly in the vicinity of this source may be exposed to health damage or their lives may be endangered – the firefighter emphasized.
When questioned, he explained that it was a metal object, but was unable to indicate its function or origin.
Separately they do not pose a threat, but when stored together they are dangerous.
The firefighter explained that most of the substances found were chemicals available on the market, which do not pose a significant threat individually, but were dangerous when stored with other substances. – Some of these materials could also have been obtained in some illegal way, because they are not in everyday circulation, but the police must clarify this – he indicated. The firefighter added that the police, as part of their proceedings, will determine exactly what the substances found were intended for. Police press officer in Wolsztyn, Senior Warrant Officer Wojciech Adamczyk said on Saturday that the area where the discovery was made had been secured, and investigators are now waiting for detailed results of tests on the chemicals. During the operations conducted at the scene, there was no threat requiring the evacuation of local residents.
Main image source: TVN24