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#Post#: 12501--------------------------------------------------
Chernobyl redux
By: Surly1 Date: June 4, 2019, 4:14 am
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See Photos From the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster.
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/
As the HBO miniseries Chernobyl comes to a conclusion, viewers
will have been taken on a dramatic trip back to 1986,
experiencing the horror and dread unleashed by the world’s
worst-ever civil nuclear disaster. And if you have the chance
to watch the miniseries do so.
[html]<div> <div> <div> <p>Thirty-three years ago,
on April 26, 1986, a series of explosions destroyed
Chernobyl’s reactor No. 4, and several hundred staff and
firefighters tackled a blaze that burned for 10 days and sent a
plume of radiation around the world. More than 50 reactor and
emergency workers were killed in the immediate aftermath. The
workers and emergency responders were not the only ones to risk
their lives—a handful of photographers went to the scene
as well, managing to capture images of some of the chaos and
acts of heroism that took place in the weeks and months that
followed. (<em>For current images of Chernobyl and the
surrounding exclusion zone, be sure to also see <a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/04/visiting-chernobyl-32-years-after-the-disaster/559016/">Visiting<br
/>Chernobyl 32 Years After the Disaster</a>, from
2018.</em>)</p> </div> <div><strong>HINTS:</strong><span
>View
this page <a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#">full<br
/>screen</a>.</span> Skip to the next and previous photo by typi
ng
j/k or ←/→.</div> </div> </div> <ul
data-expand="2000"> <li> <figure><picture><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_1500.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_1500.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_1200.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_1200.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_600.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_600.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_900.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_900.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_600.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_600.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_900.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c01_543728038/main_900.jpg?1559573410"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>Liquidators clean
the roof of the No. 3 reactor. At first, workers tried clearing
the radioactive debris from the roof using West German,
Japanese, and Russian robots, but the machines could not cope
with the extreme radiation levels so authorities decided to use
humans. In some areas, workers could not stay any longer than 40
seconds before the radiation they received reached the maximum
authorized dose a human being should receive in his entire
life.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img01">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c02_629912323/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>An aerial view of
the damaged Chernobyl nuclear-power plant, photographed a few
weeks after the disaster, in May 1986</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img02">#</a></p> <div>Laski<br
/>Diffusion / Wojtek Laski /
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c03_543727832/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>The majority of t
he
liquidators were reservists ages 35 to 40 who were called up to
assist with the cleanup operations or those currently in
military service in chemical-protection units. The army did not
have adequate uniforms adapted for use in radioactive
conditions, so those enlisted to carry out work on the roof and
in other highly toxic zones were obliged to cobble together
their own clothing, made from lead sheets and measuring two to
four millimeters thick. The sheets were cut to size to make
aprons to be worn under cotton work wear, and were designed to
cover the body in front and behind, especially to protect the
spine and bone marrow.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img03">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c04_491820792/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A military
helicopter spreads sticky decontamination fluid supposed to
reduce the spread of radioactive particles around the Chernobyl
nuclear plant a few days after the disaster.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img04">#</a></p> <div>TASS<br
/>/ AFP /
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c05_543727532/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>Liquidators clear
radioactive debris from the roof of the No. 4 reactor, throwing
it to the ground where it will later be covered by the
sarcophagus. These "biological robots" have only seconds to
work—time to place themselves by a pile of debris, lift a
shovel load, and throw it among the ruins of reactor No.
4.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img05">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c06_542875554/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A team of human
liquidators prepares to clear radioactive debris off the roof of
the No. 4 reactor.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img06">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c07_543727992/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A liquidator,
outfitted with handmade lead shielding on his head, works to
clean the roof of reactor No. 3.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img07">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c08_543727732/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>The remains of th
e
No. 4 reactor, photographed from the roof of reactor No.
3</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img08">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c09_504545620/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A photo from Sovi
et
television shows a man who was injured in the blast at Chernobyl
as he receives medical attention.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img09">#</a></p> <div>AFP<br
/>/
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c10_AP8605090292/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A Soviet technici
an
checks water taken from a stream near Kiev for radiation on May
9, 1986. Checks were being performed hourly to be certain that
water supplies were safe to use in the wake of the Chernobyl
nuclear-plant accident.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img10">#</a></p> <div>Boris<br
/>Yurchenko /
AP</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><sou
rce
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_1500.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_1500.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_1200.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_1200.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c11_AP8605091381/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A Soviet technici
an
prepares a tank truck with a solution designed to decontaminate
people's clothes and equipment in Kiev on May 9, 1986.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img11">#</a></p> <div>Boris<br
/>Yurchenko /
AP</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><sou
rce
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c12_AP8605090110/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A Soviet technici
an
checks the toddler Katya Litvinova during a radiation inspection
of residents in the village of Kopylovo, near Kiev, on May 9,
1986.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img12">#</a></p> <div>Boris<br
/>Yurchenko /
AP</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><sou
rce
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c13_AP86010101488/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>An aerial view of
the damaged Chernobyl nuclear plant undergoing repair and
containment work in 1986</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img13">#</a></p> <div>Volodymyr<br
/>Repik /
AP</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><sou
rce
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_1500.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)" /><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_1200.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)" /><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)" /><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)" /><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_600.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)" /><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c14_543727962/main_900.jpg?1559538656"<br
/>width="100%" /></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A
bulldozer digs a large trench in front of a house before burying
the building and covering it with earth. This method was applied
to entire villages that were contaminated after the Chernobyl
disaster.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img14">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c15_629911973/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>An interior photo
of a still-functioning section of the Chernobyl nuclear-power
plant taken a few months after the disaster in 1986</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img15">#</a></p> <div>Laski<br
/>Diffusion / Wojtek Laski /
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c16_AP110129030661/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>A Chernobyl
nuclear-power-plant worker holds a dosimeter to measure
radiation levels, with the under-construction sarcophagus, meant
to contain the destroyed reactor, visible in the background, in
this photo taken in 1986.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img16">#</a></p> <div>Volodymyr<br
/>Repik /
AP</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><sou
rce
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_1500.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_1200.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_600.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c17_542875812/main_900.jpg?1559573411"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>Following orders
issued by Soviet authorities to mark the end of cleanup
operations on the roof of the No. 3 reactor, three men were
requested to post a red flag atop the chimney overlooking the
destroyed reactor, reached by climbing 78 meters up a spiral
staircase. The flag bearers were sent despite the dangers posed
by heavy radiation, and after a group of liquidators had already
made two failed attempts by helicopter. The radiation expert
Alexander Yourtchenko carried the pole, followed by
Valéri Starodoumov with the flag, and Lieutenant Colonel
Alexander Sotnikov with the radio. The whole operation was timed
to last only 9 minutes, given the high radiation levels. At the
end, the trio were rewarded with a bottle of Pepsi (a luxury in
1986) and a day off.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img17">#</a></p> <div>Igor<br
/>Kostin / Sygma via
Getty</div> </div> </li> <li> <figure><picture><
source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1592px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_1500.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(min-width: 1292px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_1200.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 542px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 692px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><source
data-srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>media="(max-width: 992px)"
srcset="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_600.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/><img
data-src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>width="100%"
src="
HTML https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/c18_542877026/main_900.jpg?1559572537"<br
/>/></picture></figure> <div> <p><span>At Moscow's No. 6
clinic, which specializes in radiation treatment, a patient
recovers after a bone-marrow operation. A doctor examines the
patient in a sterile room. The examination is carried out in an
individual, air-conditioned chamber via specially created
openings to avoid direct contact and contamination.</span><a
href="
HTML https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/06/chernobyl-disaster-photos-1986/590878/#img18">#</a></p> </div> </li> </ul>[/html]
#Post#: 12506--------------------------------------------------
Re: Chernobyl redux
By: AGelbert Date: June 4, 2019, 5:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for this important historical article.
I firmly believe that the Chernobyl disaster was instrumental in
the unravelling of the USSR.
#Post#: 16299--------------------------------------------------
Chernobyl Wildfires Reignite, Stirring Up Radiation
By: Surly1 Date: April 12, 2020, 12:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Chernobyl Wildfires Reignite, Stirring Up Radiation
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/world/europe/chernobyl-wildfire.html?fbclid=IwAR3dJ2n3RggGlY-nIcJg48zDcU8Vki2LMGc8DOBDX3jrLTfZV0z0TAJNl-k
Firefighters are struggling to control wildfires burning through
the radioactive forest in the abandoned territory around the
Chernobyl nuclear plant. The large fire is stirring up radiation
in the area.
[img
width=640]
HTML https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/04/12/world/12SUBchernobyl-fires-print/merlin_171486570_4455d93a-9045-4f82-8d53-c0747de687e6-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp[/img]
A field fire burning on Friday in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
in Ukraine.Credit...Volodymyr Shuvayev/Agence France-Presse —
Getty Images
By Maria Varenikova
April 11, 2020
VINNYTSIA, Ukraine — Firefighters have struggled to control
wildfires burning through radioactive forest in the abandoned
territory around the Chernobyl nuclear plant, where radiation
levels are considerably lower than they were immediately after
the 1986 accident but still pose risks.
Radiation readings near the wildfires, where smoke is swirling
about, have been elevated, with the wind blowing toward rural
areas of Russia and Belarus for most of the past week. The wind
shifted Friday toward Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, but
authorities say the radiation level is still normal in the city,
whose population is about three million.
But Saturday’s strong winds could spread the fires to the
remnants of the nuclear plant and the equipment that was used to
clean up the disaster, said Kateryna Pavlova, the acting head of
the agency that oversees the area, in a telephone interview. “At
the moment, we cannot say the fire is contained,” Ms. Pavlova
said.
After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, authorities created an area
around the plant known as the Zone of Alienation, a rough circle
with a nearly 18-mile radius, fenced off with barbed wire.
Access to the zone is limited to workers who manage the site and
tourists who take guided excursions.
Over time, radiation has settled into the soil, where its
half-life ticks away mostly harmlessly. But the roots of moss,
trees and other vegetation have absorbed some radiation,
bringing it to the surface and spreading radioactive particles
in smoke when it burns.
Already in lockdown because of the coronavirus, Ukraine is now
also contending with fires in the post-apocalyptic landscape of
the Chernobyl zone.
Wildfires break out there often but the blazes burning through
dry grass and pine forests this spring, after a warm and dry
winter, are far larger than the typical brush fires in the
Chernobyl zone.
The Exclusion Zone Management Agency, the government office that
manages the site, said the fires have burned through more than
8,600 acres over the past week. By Saturday, about 400
firefighters, 100 fire engines and several helicopters had been
deployed to the exclusion zone.
According to the state center of radiation and nuclear safety,
contaminated smoke is expected to reach Kyiv this weekend.
However, the radiation level in the air, once smoke has
disbursed far from the fires, is considered safe. It is expected
to be about a hundredth of the level deemed an emergency.
The Exclusion Zone Management Agency is trying to protect
critical infrastructure in the Chernobyl zone, such as the plant
itself and the so-called “graves,” or parking lots of abandoned,
highly contaminated trucks and tracked vehicles that were left
from the original disaster, officials said.
“We have been working all night digging firebreaks around the
plant to protect it from fire,” Ms. Pavlova said.
The cause has not been determined. One possibility is that a
fire started intentionally by farmers to clear stubble from
nearby fields had spread into the zone.
The Zone of Alienation is an eerie landscape of abandoned
villages, equipment “graves,” empty fields and dense pine and
birch forests, set aside in perpetuity as an experiment in
mitigating nuclear disaster. The idea was to limit, through
isolation, the lethality of radiation.
The danger is minimal today. Scientists say the average
radiation level in the zone is about a quarter as harmful to
human health as it was in the immediate aftermath of the
explosion and fire.
Radioactive elements degrade at predictable intervals, called
half-lives, that can vary enormously. The average particle
half-life at Chernobyl is about 30 years.
The main risk from the fires comes from inhaling, via the smoke,
small radioactive particles thrown years ago from the open core
of the Chernobyl reactor, said Olena Miskun, an air pollution
expert with Ecodiya, an environmental advocacy group.
“Wind can raise hot particles in the air together with the ash
and blow it toward populated areas,” Ms. Miskun says. Also,
radioactive particles can land on gardens or fields and later be
consumed in food.
“We are lucky to have quarantine measures in place now,” she
said. “People stay at home, walk less and wear masks,” anyway,
because of the coronavirus threat.
Andrew E. Kramer contributed reporting from Moscow.
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