30 YEARS A WEEK AGO, A REACTOR BLEW UP IN CHERNOYL

The Chernobyl disaster is one the most well known nuclear explosions that has ever occurred. In April 1986, the explosion of one of four power stations released high radioactive particles into the atmosphere. The disaster released at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

After the terrible accident, more than 200 people were immediately hospitalized and 31 of them died. In four hours, over 300 000 people had to be urgently resettled, but about 5.5 million remained in the surroundings of the ghost city.

12 000 tons of white hot magma were rapidly burning at the bottom of the destroyed reactor, sending liters of radioactive gas and dust into the air. The 48 000 inhabitants of Pripyat were directly exposed to contamination and the rest of Europe was at the mercy of the wind.

In 2005 the Chernobyl Forum released a report on the radiological environmental and health impacts of the Chernobyl accident. It roughly estimated that cancer deaths caused by Chernobyl may reach a total of about 4,000 among the 5 million persons residing in the contaminated areas.

Health in Belarus and Ukraine has shown disturbing trends following the Chernobyl disaster. In Belarus, the incidents of congenital defects had risen by 40% within six years of the accident, to the point that it became the principal cause of infant mortality.

There was a significant increase in digestive, circulatory, nervous, respiratory and endocrine diseases. In one especially contaminated district of Belarus, 95% of children were reported in 2005 to have at least one chronic illness.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health estimated in 1993 that roughly 70% of its population were unwell, with large increases in respiratory, blood and nervous system diseases.

« Thirty years after the terrible accident, people are still restricted from resettling the evacuation area, dubbed the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The absence of humans has created an opportunity for nature to thrive. A new study using remote cameras reveals abundant populations of gray wolves, raccoon dogs, and red fox. »

Original article to The National Geographic

Image and video Copyright to The National Geographic