Rospotrebnadzor says currently no health hazard for people in Severodvinsk
MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - The current levels of contamination are not dangerous or threatening the population of Severodvinsk after an explosion at the military range in the Arkhangelsk region, the Russian consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor told Interfax on Thursday.
"Six monitoring stations are working in town on a permanent basis. The Rospotrebnadzor is making evaluations every hour. There are no levels of contamination representing any risks for people's health there," the Rospotrebnadzor said.
The Rospotrebnadzor's St. Petersburg-based Ramzaev Research and Development Centre has sent its experts to the Arkhangelsk region, the agency said.
The Severodvinsk administration's press service said earlier that recommendations not to leave buildings had been sent automatically to workers in Severodvinsk due to a short-term increase in background radiation after an explosion at a military testing range near Nenoksa.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported earlier on Thursday that an explosion occurred and a blaze started while a liquid-propellant rocket engine was being tested at a military range near Nenoksa, Arkhangelsk Region. Two people were killed and another six injured, according to the ministry.
"There have been no harmful discharges into the atmosphere, and radiation levels are normal," the ministry said.
Nenoksa is a village situated 40 km away from Severodvinsk.
There is no health hazard for Nenoksa residents, an employee of the Severodvinsk administration's Nenoksa territorial department told Interfax.
"As military officials told us, there is no threat to residents. We are all working as usual," the employee of the administration's office located in Nenoksa said.