Hanford Workers Take Cover After Cave-In Of Radioactive Waste Tunnel

"A tunnel containing radioactive waste caved in at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Richland Tuesday morning, forcing nearly 4,800 workers to take cover indoors."

"Thousands of workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Richland were forced to take cover indoors after a tunnel containing radioactive waste collapsed Tuesday morning, government officials said.

Nearly 4,800 workers at the nuclear site were told to shelter indoors, an Energy Department spokeswoman said. At around noon Tuesday, workers outside of the facility where the cave-in occurred were cleared and sent home early.

At around 1:35 p.m., five hours after the incident was declared an emergency, remaining workers were allowed to go home. About 3,000 workers had been sheltering in a facility near the collapse in the 200 East Area, which houses an old plutonium processing facility."

David Gutman reports for the Seattle Times May 9, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Hanford Nuclear Reservation Collapse Larger Than Thought" (AP)

"Tunnel Collapses At Hanford Nuclear Waste Site In Washington State" (Washington Post)

"Hanford Tunnel Breach Confirmed In Emergency At Nuclear Reservation" (Tri-City Herald)

"Emergency Declared At Hanford Nuclear Site In Washington" (OPB)

"Tunnel Collapses At Hanford Nuclear Site; Emergency Declared" (Portland Oregonian)

"Oregon Activates Emergency Operation Center After Tunnel Collapses At Hanford Nuclear Reservation" (Salem Statesman Journal)

"Hanford Officials Working On Fix For Hole In Tunnel Storing Radioactive Equipment" (Spokane Spokesman-Review)

"Radioactive Railcars? Here's What's Happening At The Hanford Nuclear Waste Site" (CBC News)