Chernobyl Disaster

The radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident contaminated the environment, leading to the uptake of radioactive isotopes, particularly cesium-137 and strontium-90, by plants in the affected areas. Herbivores, such as deer and cattle, consumed these contaminated plants, accumulating radiation in their tissues. Predators, including wolves and birds of prey, then consumed these herbivores, further concentrating the radioactive materials as they moved up the food web. This bioaccumulation has had lasting effects on wildlife health and ecosystem dynamics in the region.

On the 26th of April, 1986 there was a nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

The exact time of the accident was recorded as 1:23:44am when a power surge caused a steam explosion which significantly damaged reactor number four. This initial damage caused a second explosion which had two potential causes:

1. The ignition of a mixture of hydrogen gas and air
2. A criticality incident or run away fission event

Current evidence suggests that the latter event occured which ultimately destroyed the roof of the reactor causing the release of radioactive material into the environment.

Mankind is not ready to use nuclear power. We must dismantle the reactors that are in use and perfect other safe methods of energy. Otherwise we are doomed to repeat Chernobyl again and again until the earth is laid to waste.

The reactor was incased in a giant improvised concrete coffin. I hear that coffin is failing now and they plan on incasing it in an even bigger one. The fallout cannot be cleaned up.

Kosice are some 700km (435 miles) away from Chernobyl by air. By ground the distance increases to approximately 900 km (560 miles), making it an 12 hour trip.

On 26th April 1986 1:23 am (UTC+3) reactor number 4 blew up at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station. It suffered a catastrophic power excursion during an ill-planned, poorly implemented test of the ability to maintain cooling power following a reactor trip coincident with a loss of offsite power. For details and a complete time-line, see the Related Link below.

Chernobyl, however it was not a nuclear explosion. It was a steam explosion that blew the roof off the reactor building and ejected roughly a third of the reactor contents, followed by a graphite fire ignited when air hit the hot graphite moderator of the damaged reactor.