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When Did the Chernobyl Disaster Happen?

HistoryNuclear

Quick Answer

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Ukrainian SSR.

The Full Story

On 26 April 1986, during a late-night safety test at Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a sudden power surge caused a steam explosion and fire that blew off the 1,000-tonne reactor lid. The explosion and subsequent fire released about 400 times more radioactive material than the Hiroshima bomb. Two plant workers died immediately; 28 firefighters and emergency responders died of acute radiation syndrome within months. Over 350,000 people were evacuated from surrounding areas, and the 2,600 km² Exclusion Zone remains largely uninhabited today.

Key Facts

1.The radioactive fallout from Chernobyl was detected across much of Europe, reaching as far as Sweden and the UK.
2.The original concrete sarcophagus was replaced in 2016 by the New Safe Confinement, a massive steel arch designed to last 100 years.
3.The WHO estimates the disaster could ultimately cause up to 4,000 cancer deaths among the most-exposed populations.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Chernobyl 1986 — Minute by Minute of the World Worst Nuclear Disaster"