What caused the Chernobyl disaster in 1986?

What caused the Chernobyl disaster in 1986?

What caused the Chernobyl accident? On April 26, 1986, the Number Four RBMK reactor at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, went out of control during a test at low-power, leading to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere.

What happened on the morning of 26 April 1986?

On April 26, 1986, a sudden surge of power during a reactor systems test destroyed Unit 4 of the nuclear power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. The accident and the fire that followed released massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment.

What happened to the people who took pictures of the elephant’s foot?

The radiation level on the Elephant’s Foot in 1986 was 10,000 roentgens per hour. What does that mean? Well, in under a minute, any person who approached the mass would take in a fatal dose of radiation. With 30 seconds of exposure, you would feel extreme dizziness and fatigue, even a week or two later.

What happened to the people who photographed the elephant’s foot?

More than 30 workers died from Acute Radiation Syndrome during the explosion and ensuring cleanup. Despite the incredible amount of exposure, Korneyev kept returning inside the hastily constructed concrete sarcophagus, often with journalists in tow to document the dangers.

Who took the photo of the elephant’s foot?

The man in this photo, Artur Korneyev, has likely visited this area more than anyone else, and in doing so has been exposed to more radiation than almost anyone in history.

What made the elephant’s foot?

Radiation continues to be emitted from a mass of material in reactor 4 known as “The Elephant’s Foot”. It’s made up of nuclear fuel, melted concrete and metal, and was formed during the initial accident. The foot is still active.