ChernobyChernobyll

DisasterDisaster

On April 26, 1986 at 1:23 in the On April 26, 1986 at 1:23 in the morning, reactor number four in the morning, reactor number four in the

Chernobyl, Ukraine nuclear power plant Chernobyl, Ukraine nuclear power plant suffered a melt down which ultimately suffered a melt down which ultimately

resulted in the worst man - made resulted in the worst man - made disaster in history. disaster in history.

Nearly twenty-five years later, the people Nearly twenty-five years later, the people and environment of Eastern Europe are still and environment of Eastern Europe are still

living with the after effects of this living with the after effects of this devastating event.devastating event.

The Beginning of the EndThe Beginning of the End

Plant workers were Plant workers were conducting a test conducting a test in reactor number in reactor number

four, when uranium four, when uranium fuel overheated fuel overheated

and melted and melted through the through the

protective barrier protective barrier of the reactor of the reactor

causing an causing an explosion. explosion.

Amazingly enough, Amazingly enough, the initial explosion the initial explosion

only killed two only killed two workers. workers.

As soon as the As soon as the reactor blew open, reactor blew open,

radioactive elements radioactive elements such as plutonium such as plutonium and iodine were and iodine were

released in a plume released in a plume of smoke into the air. of smoke into the air. Wind picked up this Wind picked up this radiation and blew it radiation and blew it

across Ukraine, across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Belarus, Russia and

parts of western parts of western EuropeEurope..

At the time of this disaster, Chernobyl At the time of this disaster, Chernobyl was still under the control of the Soviet was still under the control of the Soviet

Union (now Russia) or USSR. This Union (now Russia) or USSR. This Communist government was reluctant Communist government was reluctant to admit that they ever had a serious to admit that they ever had a serious

problem - much less a serious nuclear problem - much less a serious nuclear problem at Chernobyl. So they “down-problem at Chernobyl. So they “down-

played” the catastrophe. played” the catastrophe.

Instead of evacuating citizens and Instead of evacuating citizens and alerting neighboring countries of the alerting neighboring countries of the

potential harm, the Soviet government potential harm, the Soviet government sent in local firemen to put out the fire. sent in local firemen to put out the fire.

The firemen were not even told that The firemen were not even told that radiation had been released into the radiation had been released into the

atmosphere.atmosphere.

Bridge of DeathBridge of DeathThree miles from the plant, lay the city Three miles from the plant, lay the city of Pripyat (population 49,369). Hearing of Pripyat (population 49,369). Hearing the explosion during the early morning the explosion during the early morning

hours on April 26, scores of citizens hours on April 26, scores of citizens rushed toward the plant to see what was rushed toward the plant to see what was

going on. Many of them stopped at a going on. Many of them stopped at a bridge where they had a good view of bridge where they had a good view of

the plant just 1.3 miles away. Little did the plant just 1.3 miles away. Little did they know they were standing in the they know they were standing in the

pathway of poisonous radiation pathway of poisonous radiation escaping from the destroyed reactor. escaping from the destroyed reactor. Later scientist estimated the level of Later scientist estimated the level of

contamination on that bridge to be eight contamination on that bridge to be eight times higher than the amount needed to times higher than the amount needed to

kill a personkill a person..

Today this bridgeis known world-

wide as the BridgeOf Death. No one knows for certain

how many citizens of Pripyat died as a result

of standing here onthat fateful morning.

Hush! Hush!Hush! Hush!Realizing they had a full-blown nuclear catastrophe on Realizing they had a full-blown nuclear catastrophe on

their hands, the Soviet authorities told the people of their hands, the Soviet authorities told the people of Pripyat to stay inside their homes until daylight. The next Pripyat to stay inside their homes until daylight. The next morning the townspeople and everyone within a twenty morning the townspeople and everyone within a twenty

mile radius are evacuated. Soldiers are brought in to mile radius are evacuated. Soldiers are brought in to hastily construct a fence around the perimeter of the hastily construct a fence around the perimeter of the

town and plant. The area inside the fence quickly town and plant. The area inside the fence quickly became known as the Dead Zone.became known as the Dead Zone.

More than two days had passed since the explosion, and More than two days had passed since the explosion, and still the Soviet government made no attempt to still the Soviet government made no attempt to

communicate what was happening to the rest of the communicate what was happening to the rest of the world in a vain hope that it would remain a state secret.world in a vain hope that it would remain a state secret.

Meanwhile Back at the Plant . . Meanwhile Back at the Plant . . ..

At least 28 firemen lost their lives in At least 28 firemen lost their lives in those first few hours at the site – some those first few hours at the site – some dying horrific deaths due to radiation dying horrific deaths due to radiation

poisoning. Most of the immediate poisoning. Most of the immediate survivors would die in just a few short survivors would die in just a few short

years later of cancer and other years later of cancer and other radiation related illnesses.radiation related illnesses.

Secret’s OutSecret’s OutBy April 28By April 28thth, scientists in Sweden began , scientists in Sweden began

picking up radioactive material in the picking up radioactive material in the atmosphere and sent out a world wide alert that atmosphere and sent out a world wide alert that

something was badly wrong. When directly something was badly wrong. When directly confronted by other European countries, the confronted by other European countries, the Soviet government finally admitted they were Soviet government finally admitted they were

having some “difficulty” at their Chernobyl plant. having some “difficulty” at their Chernobyl plant. But it was too late for anyone to believe them as But it was too late for anyone to believe them as radiation levels all over the rest of Europe told radiation levels all over the rest of Europe told the real story. It didn’t take scientists long to the real story. It didn’t take scientists long to

realize that over 100 types of radioactive realize that over 100 types of radioactive material had been released into the material had been released into the

environment and was threatening nearly all of environment and was threatening nearly all of Europe.Europe.

Eventuallyradioactive

fall-out from

Chernobylwould

spread to nearly every

continent on

Earth.

The Real HeroesThe Real HeroesWhile the news While the news of the devastating accident at of the devastating accident at

the Chernobyl nuclear plant was slowly the Chernobyl nuclear plant was slowly trickling out to a shocked world, crew after trickling out to a shocked world, crew after

crew of plant employees, fire-fighters, crew of plant employees, fire-fighters, soldiers, scientists and construction workers soldiers, scientists and construction workers descended on the “Dead Zone” to deal with descended on the “Dead Zone” to deal with

the aftermath of the reactor explosion. While a the aftermath of the reactor explosion. While a few of these men were volunteers, most were few of these men were volunteers, most were drafted by the government with promises of drafted by the government with promises of free health care for life, better apartments for free health care for life, better apartments for

their families and new cars.their families and new cars.

In all over In all over 600,000 workers, known as 600,000 workers, known as “Liquidators,” came to clean up the plant sites “Liquidators,” came to clean up the plant sites over the next few years. They were charged with over the next few years. They were charged with clearing rubble from the area of the explosion as clearing rubble from the area of the explosion as well as with constructing a concrete shell, called a well as with constructing a concrete shell, called a sarcophagus, around the reactor complex in an sarcophagus, around the reactor complex in an effort to contain radiation. There is little doubt effort to contain radiation. There is little doubt that their self-sacrificing work helped to prevent that their self-sacrificing work helped to prevent the further spread of radioactive materials. All of the further spread of radioactive materials. All of these Liquidators were exposed to high levels of these Liquidators were exposed to high levels of radiation, and many have either died or suffered radiation, and many have either died or suffered illnesses as a result of their exposure.illnesses as a result of their exposure.

Sadly, when the Soviet government Sadly, when the Soviet government dissolved, so did their promises of free health care dissolved, so did their promises of free health care to the Liquidators. Today most of them are in their to the Liquidators. Today most of them are in their 40’s & 50’s and suffer many health problems 40’s & 50’s and suffer many health problems caused by their time cleaning up debris at caused by their time cleaning up debris at Chernobyl. They are perhaps the only heroes of Chernobyl. They are perhaps the only heroes of Chernobyl.Chernobyl.

Sarcophagus built by Liquidators

Equipment Used By Liquidators Now Contaminated & Abandoned

PripyatPripyatWhile the Liquidators struggled to While the Liquidators struggled to

contain the radiation contamination at contain the radiation contamination at the plant site, evacuated citizens of the the plant site, evacuated citizens of the nearby city of Pripyat, were struggling nearby city of Pripyat, were struggling to find new homes and jobs away from to find new homes and jobs away from the Dead Zone. Twenty years later, the the Dead Zone. Twenty years later, the city of Pripyat remains unoccupied and city of Pripyat remains unoccupied and deserted – a modern day ghost town - deserted – a modern day ghost town -

until recently visited only by a few until recently visited only by a few photographers and scientist brave photographers and scientist brave enough to expose themselves to enough to expose themselves to

radiation.radiation.

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

Plumes of radioactive material blew Plumes of radioactive material blew north from Chernobyl into Belarus north from Chernobyl into Belarus contaminating all woodlands and contaminating all woodlands and

waterways in its path. One particularly waterways in its path. One particularly hard hit patch of woods came to be hard hit patch of woods came to be

known as the Red Forest for its known as the Red Forest for its distinctive color left by the scorching distinctive color left by the scorching

radiation.radiation.Oddly enough, bodies of water such as Oddly enough, bodies of water such as streams and lakes and the animals that streams and lakes and the animals that live in them, were not as badly affected live in them, were not as badly affected by the radiation as the forest animals, by the radiation as the forest animals,

the forest and the soil found there.the forest and the soil found there.Red Forest starting to regenerate, but the area is still contaminated & unsafe for both animals and humans. Only scientists are allowed in the forest.

But it wasn’t only the plants that suffered. As the But it wasn’t only the plants that suffered. As the radiation blew across Europe, it settled on grass radiation blew across Europe, it settled on grass

and in the soil where it was often ingested and in the soil where it was often ingested (eaten) by animals. Sheep as far away as the U.K. (eaten) by animals. Sheep as far away as the U.K.

were found to have elevated levels of radiation were found to have elevated levels of radiation and had to be monitored. Milk from cows that had and had to be monitored. Milk from cows that had

eaten contaminated grass had to be destroyed eaten contaminated grass had to be destroyed for years. Mushrooms and berries growing in for years. Mushrooms and berries growing in

forests as far away as Sweden were found to be forests as far away as Sweden were found to be radioactive and unfit for consumption. Twenty-radioactive and unfit for consumption. Twenty-three years later, humans are still forbidden to three years later, humans are still forbidden to eat any food grown in areas near Chernobyl.eat any food grown in areas near Chernobyl.Sadly, in the years Sadly, in the years immediately following the immediately following the

explosion, there was a sharp rise in the number explosion, there was a sharp rise in the number deformed animals born throughout the region.deformed animals born throughout the region.Deformed Flower

The Greatest TragedyThe Greatest TragedyThe greatest tragedy of Chernobyl is The greatest tragedy of Chernobyl is the legacy of sickness, disease and the legacy of sickness, disease and deformity it left with the children.deformity it left with the children.

Hundreds of children exposed to the Hundreds of children exposed to the radiation have developed cancer and radiation have developed cancer and

other radiation related illnesses. other radiation related illnesses. Hundreds more children were born Hundreds more children were born

malformed due to the radiation malformed due to the radiation exposure of their parents.exposure of their parents.Children in a cancer hospital.

Children born mentally impaired.Child with severe malformation.

Chernobyl . . .Chernobyl . . .An Ongoing TragedyAn Ongoing Tragedy No one knows for sure exactly how No one knows for sure exactly how

many lives have been lost, how many many lives have been lost, how many animals killed, how many acres of land animals killed, how many acres of land

contaminated, how many homes contaminated, how many homes destroyed and how many people’s lives destroyed and how many people’s lives

totally changed forever due to the totally changed forever due to the explosion at Chernobyl. What we do explosion at Chernobyl. What we do know, is that the tragedy is on-going. know, is that the tragedy is on-going. Twenty-three years later, the suffering Twenty-three years later, the suffering for both humans and the environment for both humans and the environment still still continues and will likely continue continues and will likely continue

for many years to come.for many years to come.