The Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986

On April 26, 1986, at 1:23 a.m., the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat in the Soviet Union suffered a series of explosions during an unauthorized safety test. Technicians had disabled automatic power regulation and safety systems, operating the reactor at 7% power during a turbine maintenance simulation. The blast destroyed the reactor core, blowing off the 1,000-ton steel lid and releasing radioactive material across Europe. While 31 immediate deaths were officially recorded, figures regarding long-term casualties vary; estimates reach up to 25,000 deaths among cleanup personnel. The UN reports approximately 8.4 million people were exposed to radiation, with 150,000 square kilometers contaminated. Roughly 400,000 people were displaced, though millions still reside in affected zones today. The facility was officially closed in December 2000 due to these systemic failures.