Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The government has taken swift action to address the Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radiation contamination detected in the Modern Cikande Industrial Estate, Serang, Banten. The response is being led by the Task Force for Handling the Risks of Cs-137 Radionuclide Radiation Hazards and Public Health, chaired by Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, with Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq serving as Executive Chair.
The case has been classified as a special incident by the government, mobilizing cross-sectoral resources to accelerate mitigation and ensure the area’s safety.
“Support from all sectors is expected to strengthen efforts to safeguard the environment and public health from radioactive contamination risks,” emphasized Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.
As of Thursday (October 2, 2025), the Task Force’s Mitigation and Radiation Contamination Response Unit, coordinated by KLH Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Rasio Ridho Sani, has carried out comprehensive decontamination measures. Highly radioactive material was lifted using heavy equipment and transferred to PT PMT’s temporary storage facility.
To prevent exposure, radiation-transport vehicles were reinforced with lead shielding to ensure safety for both the environment and drivers. From one contaminated site, Location F, the team secured two jumbo bags of material and six HDPE drums with high radiation levels. In total, as of October 2, at least 20 drums, 17 jumbo bags, and 3 pallets have been secured from Locations A and F.
During decontamination, the Task Force was guided by Radiation Protection Officers (PPR) from the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) to protect workers from excessive radiation exposure. Strict monitoring was also conducted by the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Task Force on all vehicles entering and leaving the industrial estate to ensure no radiation escaped the site.
On the health front, the Ministry of Health has screened 1,562 workers from the industrial area and surrounding communities within a 5-kilometer radius. Workers identified as potentially exposed were given prussian blue, a medication that helps remove Cs-137 from the body.
Going forward, the Task Force will continue decontamination efforts across all Cs-137 contamination sites and remap affected areas to ensure no radioactive sources are overlooked.
The government stressed the importance of synergy, transparency, and public participation in restoring the area to safeguard both community safety and environmental sustainability. (*)
