LAS VEGAS (Nevada): The United States Atomic Energy Commission today [April 26] exploded its biggest ever underground thermo-nuclear test explosion, despite a ban demand by the Federation of American Scientists yesterday.

The megaton force blast, equivalent to 1.2 million tons of TNT (50 times more powerful than the Bomb dropped on Hiroshima) was set off at 07.00 local time exactly, and residents of Nevada state heard the countdown and blast given live over their radios. Atomic Energy Commission experts had earlier denied that the blast would cause dangerous radiation or shock-wave damage, but a number of buildings in towns near the test polygon had been evacuated.

The 2,200 strong Federation of American Scientists had asked yesterday for a moratorium on underground tests, beginning today, to further the cause of nonproliferation. Dr Cameron Satter-Thwaite, the Federation’s President, said it was believed that today’s device was a warhead of the type which is to arm the sentinel anti-ballistic missile screen against eventual Chinese missiles. — Agencies

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2018