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April 26, 2004

Forgotten Chernobyl

Eighteen years ago today, the explosion of the reactor in Chernobyl, the greatest industrial disaster in the history of humankind, released one hundred times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition to the reactor’s immediate surroundings – an area with a radius of about 30 km – other regions were contaminated, particularly in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

At the time of the accident, about 7 million people lived in the contaminated territories, including 3 million children. About 350 400 people were resettled or left these areas. However, about 5.5 million people, including more than a million children, continue to live in the contaminated zones.

Many remain highly critical of the response, the lack of information and cover-up following the disaster (click here).

An eerie look at the Chernobyl area today is given here. I found staggering the deserted towns and estimated casualties.