October 14, 2025 | 03:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police are preparing to evacuate residents living near the Cikande Industrial Area in Serang Regency, Banten, Indonesia, following suspicions of cesium-137 radiation contamination originating from PT Peter Metal Technology Indonesia (PMT).
Banten Police Chief Inspector General Hengki said the evacuation would target residents in areas designated as the “red zone.”
“In the near future, residents living within the red zone will be temporarily evacuated,” Hengki said on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
He explained that the police are currently verifying data on residents who will be relocated. “The documentation must be precise. We need to identify exactly who must leave the area,” Hengki said in a written statement received by Tempo.
Authorities have prepared three temporary shelters: the Vocational Training Center (BLK), the PGRI Building, and the Bhayangkara Dormitory. The relocation is expected to continue until the decontamination process in Cikande is fully completed.
Hengki assured that the evacuation will be conducted with minimal disruption to residents’ daily routines. “We will ensure that all residents’ needs are met during relocation, including facilities for children, sleeping arrangements, bathrooms, and transportation to work or school,” he said.
He also emphasized that residents’ livelihoods will remain unaffected. “There will be daily transportation, by bus or truck if necessary, so that residents do not lose access to their workplaces,” Hengki added.
Earlier, the government declared a state of serious incident in the Modern Cikande Industrial Zone after detecting contamination of the radionuclide cesium-137. The substance is suspected to have originated from smelting materials imported from the Philippines.
Of the thousands of residents and workers tested, nine individuals were confirmed to have been exposed to cesium-137.
“These nine people have been treated by the Ministry of Health,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Zulkifli added that no other residents or workers have shown serious health impacts and assured that the government continues to monitor the situation closely, provide support to affected individuals, and ensure that the national food supply, including shrimp exports, remains safe for consumption.
Arif Ilham Fajriadi contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Gov't Still Investigating Radiation Found in Shrimp Exports
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesian Gov't Still Investigating Radiation Found in Shrimp Exports
4 jam lalu
Cesium-137 Handling Task Force is still investigating radioactive exposure source in scrap metal that contaminated Indonesia's exported shrimps.
US Restricts Indonesian Shrimp Imports Over Cesium-137 Contamination
20 jam lalu
The warning follows the discovery of Cesium-137 contamination in some shipments of shrimp and cloves from Indonesia.
Indonesia Deploys Special Forces to Decontaminate Cesium-137 Radiation Site in Banten
1 hari lalu
The government will conduct massive radioactive decontamination of Cesium-137 targeting eight locations simultaneously in the Cikande industrial area.
Joe Biden Undergoes Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
2 hari lalu
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy following his diagnosis of prostate cancer in May 2025.
Today's Top 3 News: India Defeat Indonesia 2-1 in U-23 Friendly Ahead of 2025 SEA Games
2 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Indonesian Gov't Assures Cesium-137 Case Won't Affect Shrimp Exports to U.S.
3 hari lalu
Ministry assesses that the cesium-137 case does not disrupt shrimp export as the distribution through contaminated channels has been stopped.
BPOM: Cesium-137 Contamination Affects Indonesian Food Exports
4 hari lalu
BPOM stated that the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) import alert has the potential to affect Indonesian spice products.
Indonesia Bans Scrap Metal Imports After Cesium-137 Radioactive Contamination Found in Banten
5 hari lalu
The response to the spread of Cesium-137 radioactive contamination in the Cikande modern industrial area, Banten, has entered a critical new phase.
What Happens Inside the Body Contaminated with Cesium-137?
6 hari lalu
Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Padjadjaran University said it takes 30 years for half of the Cesium-137 to disappear from the body
Indonesian Task Force Team Finds High-Radiation Materials in Cikande Industrial Area
9 hari lalu
Indonesian task force discovers and evacuates two large bags and six drums with high levels of cesium-137 radiation in the Cikande Industrial Area.
