In the early hours of April 26, 1986, reactor number 4 at the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin nuclear power plant in Pripyat, near Chernobyl in Ukraine (part of the Soviet Union at the time), suffered a devastating explosion. What began as a failed experiment became the worst nuclear accident in history, releasing into the atmosphere 400 times more radiation than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.
A faulty reactor and human error were the main causes of the catastrophe. During a safety test, a sudden increase in power occurred, which, combined with reactor design flaws and a lack of adequate safety measures, caused the core to explode.
The impact was immediate and devastating. An uncontrollable fire broke out at the plant, releasing a radioactive cloud into the atmosphere that spread across Europe and part of Asia. Thousands of people were evacuated from the surrounding areas, and many others were exposed to high levels of radiation.
The consequences of the accident were dire. In the short term, dozens of deaths from acute radiation were recorded, mainly among the plant's workers and emergency crews. In the long term, thousands of people have developed cancer and other diseases related to radiation exposure.
Chernobyl became a symbol of the danger of nuclear energy and a reminder of the importance of safety and responsibility in its use. The exclusion zone around the plant remains uninhabitable to this day, and a giant sarcophagus covers the remains of the reactor to prevent further radiation leaks.
The Chernobyl accident marked a turning point in the history of nuclear energy. Since then, rigorous safety measures have been put in place to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
Негізгі бет What happened in Chernobyl in 1986? The history of the nuclear disaster
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