Chernobyl workers find nuclear fuel fragment on leaking sarcophagus roof

KYIV, Nov. 30 (AP) – Workers at the Chernobyl atomic plant found a highly radioactive nuclear fuel fragment atop the sarcophagus that covers a reactor ruined in the world’s worst nuclear accident, officials said Thursday.

The 20-centimeter (8-inch) fragment, found last week during a scheduled sarcophagus examination, emits radiation of some 200 Roentgen in hour at a distance of 10 centimeters (4 inches), dropping to about 1 Roentgen in hour at a distance of 1 meter (3.3 feet).