Fears of new radiation contamination as wildfires edge closer to Chernobyl nuclear plant

By MiNDFOOD

An aerial view shows a forest fire in the 30 km exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine, April 12, 2020, in this still picture taken from video. Video taken April 12, 2020. Reuters TV/via REUTERS
An aerial view shows a forest fire in the 30 km exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine, April 12, 2020, in this still picture taken from video. Video taken April 12, 2020. Reuters TV/via REUTERS
Wildfires raging in Ukraine are edging dangerously close to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The fires have spread to just one kilometre from the defunct plant and close to a disposal site for radioactive waste.

There are fears radiation in the ground released by the flames could reach surrounding populated areas.

Radiation levels near the blazes have spiked, with smoke from the fires being blown towards neighbouring regions.

The winds are blowing smoke towards the Ukrainian capital Kiev, but authorities say radiation levels in the city remain normal.

More than 300 firefighters are working to contain the fires, but strong gusts could spread them towards what is left of the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

Rashid Alimov, a member of Greenpeace’s Russia branch, told Reuters that “a fire approaching a nuclear or hazardous radiation facility is always a risk”.

Fires have been burning since 4 April in Chernobyl’s exclusion zone, a 30 kilometre area around the former power station where people are forbidden from living.

Police said the blazes were a result of arson, with locals setting fire to grass.

The Chernobyl nuclear power station and the nearby town of Pripyat have been abandoned since the plant’s No. 4 reactor blew up in 1986.

It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history.

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