According to RadNet, the United States’ radiation monitoring network, South Bend, Indiana experienced extremely high levels of radiation last night — up to 100 times higher than safe levels.

Last night, live records for a radiation monitoring station near the border of Indiana and Michigan showed radiation levels as high as 7,139 counts per minute (CPM). At 1:55 a.m., Eastern time, the radiation level was at 2,558 CPM. The level varied between 2,000 CPM and 7,000 CPM for several hours. Normal radiation levels are between 5 and 60 CPM, and any readings above 100 CPM should be considered unusual and trigger an alert, according to information listed on the jmlmh Radiation Network website. The online geiger counter monitoring network operated by Black Cat Systemsalso reported unusually high radiation levels in the same region. This article will be updated as more information becomes available. UPDATE: As of 2:45 a.m. Eastern Time, the radiation level for the station in Northern Indiana had risen to 3,989 CPM. RadNet has yet to issue a statement in response. UPDATE: RadNet has issued the following alert:

Very high reading in South Bend, IN station this evening. Reason unknown. Station unresponsive to contact at this late hour. Since this same station has triggered the Alert system before, which Alerts may have been false, and because his current readings do not appear to be corroborated by nearby stations, we have disabled his station for the time being. Will report back when we know more.

UPDATE: RadNet issued the following statement this morning:

The alert level reading last evening appears to be a false alert from an equipment malfunction. Here is the station’s report: “out of control readings on the GeigerGraph screen from about 11:30pm local time that occurred while sleeping. My apologies to all. I have no idea what caused this. Shut down GeigerGraph and restarted. Readings from the Geiger were in the normal range (the Geiger operates on A/C). All cable connections are tight and not loose. Am speculating between the GFI and USB Adapter and some sort of voltage spikes. The uninterruptable power supply UPS had lost power and had died – a tripped GFI. I am not going to leave the system running while not at home until I can determine and fix the problem.”#Link