Radioactive gas canister sparks panic on Lebanese beach near Beirut

BEIRUT, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A gas canister found Tuesday on a beach in the southern suburbs of Beirut sparked panic as it was believed to be containing "radioactive" substances, local media reported.

Earlier in the day, the National News Agency (NNA) reported that rumors have been circulated about the presence of radioactive material on Ouzai's beach.

It turned out later that a small gas canister with a radioactive material warning label in Latin was found on the beach facing the Safwan bakery and the Mukhtar Jalloul shops, the NNA reported.

The Internal Security Forces cordoned off the site and contacted the Army Command to send an expert from the Engineering Regiment to examine the canister and determine its content, it said.

Investigation was underway to determine "whether the canister came from the sea or was deliberately placed on the shore to spark panic among citizens," it added.

A statement issued by the Environment Ministry's press office said Environment Minister Tarek al-Khatib headed to Ouzai's beach once he was informed of the presence of nuclear waste there.

"It turned out that the issue is related to a gas canister containing radioactive material," the statement said.

The minister immediately called Justice Minister Salim Jreissati and Bilal Nsouli, head of the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission.

Nsouli promised to send a technical team to examine the canister, reassuring that "the threat of such type of material can be contained and there is no need for panic." Enditem.