THUNDER BAY - Residents across Ontario are looking for answers after receiving mobile phone alerts falsely warning of an incident at the Pickering nuclear power station. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) says the alert, which went out just after 7:20 a.m. Sunday, was sent in error.
But confusion reigned in the nearly two hours between the original alert and OPG’s clarification. The company said in a statement they would release more information later in the morning.
The text of the alert said it applied to residents within 10 kilometres of the Pickering nuclear station.
“An incident was reported at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station,” it read in part. “There has been NO abnormal release of radioactivity from the station and emergency staff are responding to the situation. People near the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station DO NOT need to take any protective actions at this time. Remain tuned to local media for further information and instructions.”
The office of Premier Doug Ford confirmed the message had been sent in error, and that there was no danger to the public.
MPP Peter Tabuns, energy critic for the opposition NDP, called for a public investigation of the incident.
“We need a full and transparent investigation into how a false alarm was triggered, and how all breakdowns in communication occurred,” he said in a statement. “Confidence in the accuracy of the system is essential for public safety.”
