nearly 40 countries around the world have highly enriched uranium, or mplutonium, ranging from multiple tons to a few kilo grams. enough to make over 200,000 nuclear bombs. and much of the material is not completely secure. there were nearly 250 reported thefts of nuclear and radio active material worldwide from july 2007 to june 2008. back in chile, the team is also removing the extremely radio active and lethal uranium from the heart of the reactor. >> as long as there is highly enriched youranium, there is always a concern that something could happen to a facility. >> reporter: armed guards secure the perimeter as every bit of the material is weighed. so sensitive, so dangerous, it must be accounted for on every step of its journey. >> this baby ialmost ready to go. >> reporter: the next day, the earthquake strikes. the team is safe, but their mission has become infinitely more complex. the port they intended to ship the material from has suffered major damage. they have to secure another port and chart a whole new route. >> there is no power in this facility here. no running water.