Description:
The Chernobyl disaster stands as one of the most significant industrial and environmental tragedies in modern history. It began on April 26, 1986, when Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded during a late-night safety test. The accident released massive amounts of radioactive material into the air, spreading across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and eventually reaching parts of Europe. What made the incident even worse was the lack of immediate transparency. Many residents in nearby Pripyat went about their normal routines without realizing the danger they were breathing in.
The explosion was caused by a combination of flawed reactor design and critical human errors. Operators carried out the test without fully understanding the risks, and the RBMK reactor design made it unstable at low power levels. When the reactor surged unexpectedly, it led to a catastrophic steam explosion and fire that burned for days. Firefighters who rushed to the scene faced intense radiation without proper protection. Many of them later died from acute radiation syndrome.