Background radiation in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region normal - regional administration head

KYIV. March 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Background radiation in the Zaporizhzhya region remained within normal levels as of Wednesday noon and was not dangerous to people's health, head of the Zaporizhzhya regional military administration Oleksandr Starukh said.

"The Zaporizhzhya regional disease control and prevention center of the Ukrainian Health Ministry has reported that the radiation levels in the Zaporizhzhya region remained unchanged and did not pose a threat to the people's lives and health," Starukh said on Telegram.

"The gamma-ray background is not higher than the natural level typical for these territories," he said.

The gamma-ray background in various populated areas across the region currently varies from 10.2 to 12 microroentgen per hour; in particular, it is 10.6 microroentgen per hour in Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is located, Starukh said.