Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Coast Guard Looking For Drum Labeled 'Radioactive' Off Sandy Hook
A Coast Guard spokesman said the USCG is "not assuming there's any threat" to the public.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been searching for a 55-gallon drum labeled "radioactive" that a fisherman spotted off Sandy Hook on Monday afternoon.
A Coast Guard spokeswoman said the USCG is "not assuming there's any threat" to the public.
A heavy rainfall in Central Jersey and the Jersey Shore area Monday afternoon slowed efforts to locate the drum.
"We tried to respond to it, but the weather is hampering efforts," said Jetta Disco, spokeswoman for the U.S. Coast Guard.
If the weather conditions improve, the Coast Guard will resume the search, Disco said.
If it is located, the Coast Guard will be working with the Monmouth County HAZMAT personnel to determine whether the drum poses any danger, Disco said.
The drum's top was open when it was seen about eight miles off Sandy Hook, Disco said.
The drum itself was full of seawater when it was spotted at 4:30 p.m., floating three quarters out of water.
She said the drum hasn't been seen since 4:30 p.m. Monday.
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