The Zaporiyah nuclear power plant in Ukraine is on nuclear disaster alert. (Photo: GettyImages)
Nuclear facility on alert is located in Ukraine, 700 km from the Romanian border
The possibility of a disaster was raised following fresh attacks on the site last Friday
Iodine pills help reduce the risk of exposure
Romania is wary of a possible nuclear disaster in Ukraine, with which it shares a border. This Monday (8), the Romanian Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, called on citizens under 40 to stock up on an iodine tablet “as soon as possible”.
The request came after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last Sunday (7) warned of the risk of a “nuclear catastrophe” at Zaporiya, a facility occupied by Russians since March. Last Friday (5th) the site was again the target of attacks. Both countries accuse each other of continuing the attack.
Zaporijja, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, is located 700 kilometers from the border with Romania.
The Minister of Health addressed those under 40s, who are the most vulnerable to developing the effects of radiation exposure, and urged them to “present themselves as soon as possible to the family doctor, from whom they must request a prescription”. to the Ministry of Health, the Agerpres news agency.
In addition, the ministry has published a list of 2,500 pharmacies where you can get iodine tablets for free.
The Romanian pharmaceutical industry has increased iodine production since the Russian invasion of Ukraine due to the possibility of a nuclear accident at one of the neighboring country’s plants. In addition, the government has stocked around 300 million iodine tablets.
The minister also warned of a possible increase in demand for iodine tablets today.