The chernobyl disaster
April 26, 1986
effected area
In 1986, the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred when the Soviet nuclear power plant at Chernobyl melted down. The reactor meltdown and following explosion resulted in a radioactive cloud, which contaminated parts of the Soviet Union and Europe. People living in parts of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia needed evacuation. 800,000 people experienced radiation exposure which could lead to 100,000 or more cancer deaths. So far, over 4,000 have died from the disaster. 56 died at the time of the incident and the rest have died of cancer or other radioactive side effects. About 240,000 liquidators received the highest radiation doses while conducting major cleanup activities within the 30 kilometers zone around the reactor. Evacuation and relocation proved a deeply traumatic experience to many people, and there was a lack of reliable information provided to people affected in the first few years after the accident.