It caused a great fright. A warning message reporting an "incident" at the Pickering nuclear power plant, east of Toronto (Canada) was sent "by mistake" this Sunday to residents. The alert, issued shortly before 7:30 am by the provincial authorities, concerned residents living within a 10 km radius of the power plant, but it was also sent to the entire province.
Province reports "incident" to Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. Few details, but there would be "no abnormal emission of radioactivity". pic.twitter.com/rM1f6tFdhN
- Radio-Canada Ontario (@icionoquer) January 12, 2020Just over an hour later, the Ontario Power Generation company that manages the nuclear site, announced on Twitter that it was a mistake. “The previous alert was issued in error. There is no danger to the public or the environment, ”said the second message.
Important update: the alert regarding #Pickering Nuclear was sent in error. There is no danger to the public or environment.
- Ontario Power Gen (@opg) January 12, 2020A requested inquiry
The Pickering nuclear power plant, one of the largest in the world, is located some 50 km east of Toronto, Canada's main metropolis, home to three million people. Several elected officials from the region immediately called for an investigation into this incident.
"Like many of you, I was very disturbed to have received a warning message this morning," commented Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan on Twitter. “Although I am relieved to learn that there was no emergency, I am upset that such a mistake may have occurred. I demand that a full investigation take place, ”he added. Toronto mayor John Tory also called for an investigation, regretting that many residents of his city "were unnecessarily worried about the alert."
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