Investigators have determined what caused an explosion at a closed nuclear waste dump near Beatty last October.
Nevada State Fire Peter Mulvihill Marshal released a statement Wednesday saying rainwater, mixed with metallic sodium, caused the explosion and subsequent fire to occur.
Mulvihill said that drums containing the metallic sodium had corroded, allowing the chemical to leech into the ground.
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Heavy rainfall soaked into the ground, came into contact with the sodium, and subsequently caused the fire to take place.
The site had become a waste dump in 1962 before closing 30 years later.
