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Eastern rescue centre spokesman said that somewhat higher than the natural background radiation level was detected in the Molycorp Silmet closed territory, next to the burnt building. The area is restricted, and it is guarded around the clock by a security company. The danger in this area will be liquidated.

The causes of industrial plant building fire, what burned and in which quantities will be ascertained in an investigation. It is now known that, among other things, there was raw material for ferro-niobium in the building, containing low concentrations of natural radioactive substances.

Wednesday's measurement results showed that Silmet industrial building fire did not involve the radiological risk to residents of the region, and the radiation level remains normal in Sillamäe town limits.

On Tuesday at 15:45 a fire broke out in a Silmet factory in Sillamäe, which the rescuers contained by midnight but finally put out by noon on Wednesday. The fire produced a lot of thick black smoke, some of which reached the nearby residential areas.