what happened in chernobyl?

Question

i was 3 when this tragedy happened, and well just wondering about what happened, any thoughts? or stories¿?

Answer 1

It was a nuclear accident.

From Wikipedia:
The Chernobyl disaster was an accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on April 26, 1986 at 01:23 a.m., consisting of an explosion at the plant and subsequent radioactive contamination of the surrounding geographic area. The power plant is located at 51°23′23″N, 30°5′58″E, near Pripyat, Ukraine, at the time part of the Soviet Union. It is regarded as the worst accident ever in the history of nuclear power. A plume of radioactive fallout drifted over parts of the western Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland and eastern North America. Large areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were badly contaminated, resulting in the evacuation and resettlement of over 336,000 people. About 60% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus, according to official post-Soviet data.[1]

The accident raised concerns about the safety of the Soviet nuclear power industry, slowing its expansion for a number of years, while forcing the Soviet government to become less secretive. The now-independent countries of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus have been burdened with continuing and substantial decontamination and health care costs of the Chernobyl accident. It is difficult to tally accurately the number of deaths caused by the events at Chernobyl, as the Soviet-era cover-up made it difficult to track down victims. Lists were incomplete, and Soviet authorities later forbade doctors to cite "radiation" on death certificates. Most of the expected long-term fatalities, especially those from cancer, have not yet actually occurred, and will be difficult or even impossible to attribute specifically to the accident. Dr Peter Boyle, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, put the discussion of the figures into perspective: "Tobacco smoking will cause several thousand times more cancers in the same (European) population."[2] Estimates and figures vary widely. The 2005 report prepared by the Chernobyl Forum, led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Health Organization (WHO), attributed 56 direct deaths (47 accident workers, and nine children with thyroid cancer), and estimated that as many as 9,000 people among the approximately 6.6 million most highly exposed, may die from some form of cancer (one of the induced diseases).[3] Nearly 20 years after the disaster, according to the Chernobyl Forum, no evidence of increases in the solid cancers and, possibly more significantly, none of the widely expected increases in leukemia have been found in the population.[2]

Answer 2

All the previous answers are OK. The only thing I can add is the rumour that the safety valves were locked on purpose- some idiot was experimenting, but when the safety paremeters were exceeded was unable to reopen the cooling system.
The problem with Chernobyl was that the reactors were built without a safety capsule (the characteristic concrete domes on western designed plants) so when the reactor melted all the radiation and radioactive smoke and gases were able to spread without hindrance. I am told the same accident in a western plant would have caused next to no environmental impact (the explosion in the reactor itself was small- mostly due to overheated coolant- so it would have not damaged the dome).

After the meltdown the russians made a terrific effort to limit the leaks- mostly by piling heaps of earth on the melted reactor. They lost at least one heavy helicopter which was dumping it's load on the reactor. SFAIK some 700 rescue workers were irradiated and died. Most of the locals got away, but heaven knows about long term effects.

The nasty part was that the russians kept it a secret. The effect is increased rates of thyroid cancer among children in the fallout areas- something which could have been easilly prevented by staying indoors and taking extra Iodine - provided they knew the danger

Summing up- it is the story of sloppy construction, politically correct idiots in charge and an attempt to manage a catastrophe as a public relations issue.

Answer 3

A nuclear reactor basically exploded and spread extremely high level of gamma radiation throughout the region. Radioactive debris was everywhere around the nuclear plant. Thousands of Soviet soldiers and workers were have died as a direct result of radiation exposure during the clean up and containment process. The radiation was so intense that it destroyed a robot which they placed on the roof of the building to push the debris off to the ground. Having no other option, thousands of soldiers were used to remove the debris from the roof. Radiation levels were so intense that crews worked in 30 second shift if you can imagine. Basically enough time to run out on the roof, throw off a piece of debris, and run back inside. Each man was only allowed to do this twice, and to this day most have had some form of radiation related sickness. Chernobyl was a real tragedy, and the problems aren't over. The radiation was so intense that it was decided that the entire plant must be encapsulated until a better clean-up plan could be addressed. A hasty and poorly built structure was erected over the entire building to contain the rediation. After 20 years of wind and weather, this structure is literally falling apart and high levels of radiation are leaking out. I'm not certain, but I believe that Halliburton has been awarded a contract to build a permanent dome shaped structure over the existing mess, which should last for the two thousand or so years it will take for the radiation levels to subside. Of course this will cost billions. Of course the Russians don't have it. Of course the U.S. will loan (give) them the money to do it. All the while the Russians will continue to sell weapons etc to Iran, and generally undermine U.S. interests world wide. Such is life.

Answer 4

Thatlady got what happened right. I'm not going to repeat it here.

But you mentioned being three when it happened. And asked for stories.

I was a Junior in High School when it happened. a DoD school in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. I was an Army Brat and we were stationed over there when the radiation release came across Western Europe.

I vividly remember the warnings and restrictions and panic that happened. We were told to not buy any food of the local markets. we were to buy only food shipped in from the US via the Commissary. We were told to stay indoors as much as possible. To stay away from Parks and other grassy areas. To leave our shoes at the door. to change clothes and take showers everytime we come inside when practical. It was a scary time

Answer 5

I watched a reconstructed movie on discovery channel about this disaster
and one of the survivers was talking about the last his last hours in the reactor) eye witness on this crime
u can say that the cause was the communism consequences
the chief engineer was a dictator and ignoring every advice to shut down the reactor till it exploded
i was also too young when it exploded but watch this movie it is very good and worthy

Answer 6

in the former soviet union a nuclear reactor in a plant called Chernobyl suffered a nuclear meltdown that spread large amounts of radiation to the town near by

Answer 7

Chernobyl was NOT a meltdown. What happened was a steam explosion, nothing more. The steam was radioactive. Again, it was not a meltdown.

Answer 8

nuclear reactor and people died,,, they tried to hide it from the worl that it happened