Ten years ago the
deadliest accident in the history of commercial atomic power occurred when the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, sending radiation that killed at least 30
and affected thousands more across the then-Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The
explosion happened after a loss of coolant water to fuel rods in the reactor's
core triggered a series of irreversible reactions leading to a meltdown and a blast that ripped through the roof of the building.
ABOVE:
The reactor 11 hours
after the blast
PHOTO: Igor Kostin
LEFT:
The explosion demolished
reactor No. 4
PHOTO: TASS
