A RUSSIAN naval base is on a mysterious lockdown after an accidental missile explosion at the base was linked to a sudden radiation spike in the region.
The world is on alert after a rocket engine explosion on a naval test range in northern Russia was linked to a shock radiation spike.
See Details: A Reported Radiation Leak In Russia After Huge Explosion at Ballistic Missile Testing Facility
The Kremlin have confirmed the “rocket engine explosion” two people and injured six. There are mounting concerns that the explosion took place during the testing of a new nuclear missile.
According to latest Media reports Five people were killed and three injured following a rocket explosion on an Arctic naval test range in Russia on Thursday, state nuclear company Rosatom confirmed.
Rosatom said the accident occurred during tests on a liquid propellant rocket engine. The three injured staff members suffered serious burns in the accident.
Radiation levels peaked between 11:50 and 12:30 (08:50-09:30 GMT) before falling and normalising by 14:00, the city administration in Severodvinsk said on its website, without reporting how significant the spike had been.
Local authorities warned radiation levels spiked for about 40 minutes after the blast, but say these have since returned to normal. The increase only saw radiation reach 2 microsieverts per hour, up from 0.11. But neither reading can cause radiation sickness.
It is unclear what could have caused radiation levels to rise. Local people were reportedly urged to take precautions against radiation.
Adding to the fears, the Archangelsk base where the explosion took place has since been placed on emergency lockdown, with the nearby White Sea also closed.
