site.btaNo Risk for Bulgaria in Wake of Fire Near Chernobyl N-plant

No Risk for Bulgaria in Wake of Fire Near Chernobyl N-plant

Sofia, July 3 (BTA) - There is no risk for the people in
Bulgaria and no protection measures against radiation have to be
taken after the fire near the Chernobyl N-plant in Ukraine, the
Bulgarian Health Ministry said Friday.

The press release comes in the wake of panic about a risk of
radioactive pollution after forest fires broke out in the
exclusion zone around Chernobyl.

The fire was extinguished on July 1.

The National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection has
undertaken measures to clarify the situation according to a
programme established for such cases. Control of ionizing
radiation and health monitoring are constant. No changes have
been registered to date.

Nor are there any indications of radioactive pollution of
ambient air resulting from air flows from the territory of
Chernobyl.

Environment and Water Minister Ivelina Vassileva told
journalists that Bulgaria's national system is connected to the
systems of other countries and the information coming from all
of them is that there is no indication of any change in ionizing
radiation readings. "Let the people rest assured. They can
follow the readings of the system at any time online. They
should not worry," she said.