A resident of Harbin, in Heilongjiang Province, took home a rod-shaped metal object he had found. As a result, he, his wife, his daughter, and over 100 nearby residents were exposed to radiation. So far, the incident has caused one death. The Heilongjiang Life Daily reported on November 1 that a woman hospitalized in the First Hospital of Harbin Medical School for three months died on October 20. She was the first victim of the “7/13 radiation incident.”
Of the 114 people who accidentally received varying doses of radiation, five have exhibited symptoms. Two children were transferred to Beijing for further testing. They are currently stable and not in danger.
An agency is currently investigating the source of the radioactive material. Experts indicate that although China has strict regulations regarding the control of radioactive materials, this accident revealed weaknesses in the administration.
