Manama: Kuwaiti authorities said a radioactive device that went missing at Burgan oilfield, in the southern part of the country on Friday, had been found.
The Ministry of Interior said the device was fully sealed, ruling out any hazard or risks.
In its statement, the ministry said an Egyptian expatriate who worked for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) called the authorities to report he had found a device near his work area in Burgan oilfield.
The expatriate added he did not try to open the device or tamper with it, and that he contacted the Ministry of Interior after reading the ministry’s statement over the missing device.
The ministry said it recovered the device from the expatriate at his house. The area was scanned and no traces of radioactive materials were found, the statement issued late on Friday added.
Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas reported the authorities launched emergency procedures following the announcement of the loss of “a radiant device used in industrial imaging”.
Calls were issued to all citizens and residents to watch out for a small device and to report it immediately to the authorities.
Vehicles and trucks in the area were scanned to ensure they were not affected in any way, the daily said.
The mobilisation of the emergency services was ended after the device was handed over by the Egyptian expatriate.
