DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT-2

TOPIC

The Chernobyl Disaster of 1986

TEAM MEMERS:

RAJENDRAN B 20EE075
SURYA V 20EE101
THANGARAJ R 20EE108
MADHU BALAN N 21EEL08
 Title

The Chernobyl Disaster of 1986

Introduction
The Chernobyl environmental impact but also revealed significant flaws
in the Soviet nuclear industry and had far-reaching consequences on
global nuclear safety standards. This essay will explore the events leading
up to the disaster, the immediate aftermath, the long-term consequences,
and the lessons learned . disaster of 1986 remains one of the most
catastrophic nuclear accidents in human history. It occurred at the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, then part of the
Soviet Union. The accident not only claimed lives and left a lasting

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near the town of Pripyat,
consisted of four RBMK reactors, a type of reactor design known for its
inherent instability at low power levels. Reactor Number 4 was chosen for
a safety test scheduled for April 26, 1986. The purpose of the test was to
evaluate the feasibility of cooling the reactor's core during a power outage,
but a series of errors and miscommunications would turn it into a
catastrophic event.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
The Disaster Unfolds
The test began during the late hours of April 25, but due to a series of
errors, the reactor's power level was reduced to a dangerous point. At 1:23
a.m. on April 26, an explosion and a massive release of radioactive
material occurred. The explosion was caused by a steam explosion, which
ruptured the reactor vessel, followed by a fire caused by graphite
moderator. The explosion released radioactive materials into the
atmosphere, creating a radioactive cloud that drifted across Europe.

Cause 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.
Immediate Consequences
The immediate consequences of the Chernobyl disaster were devastating.
Two plant workers died on the night of the explosion, and 28 firefighters
and plant workers succumbed to acute radiation sickness in the following
weeks. The town of Pripyat, which housed the plant's workers, was
evacuated, and a 30-kilometer exclusion zone was established. The Soviet
government attempted to cover up the disaster initially, which led to
delayed evacuations in surrounding areas, further exacerbating the health
impact on residents.
Long-Term Consequences
The long-term consequences of the Chernobyl disaster were far-reaching.
The radioactive fallout affected not only the immediate vicinity but also
much of Europe. It contaminated large swaths of land, leading to health
issues for the local population and necessitating the resettlement of
thousands of people. The disaster left a long-lasting scar on the
environment, affecting wildlife and ecosystems. The contamination also
had economic and social impacts on the affected regions.

Area was affected by the radioactive fallout

Some 150,000 square kilometres in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are
contaminated and stretch northward of the plant site as far as 500
kilometres. An area spanning 30 kilometres around the plant is considered
the “exclusion zone” and is essentially uninhabited. Radioactive fallout
scattered over much of the northern hemisphere via wind and storm
patterns, but the amounts dispersed were in many instances insignificant.
Number of people were evacuated
The entire town of Pripyat (population 49,360), which lay only
three kilometres from the plant was completely evacuated 36
hours after the accident. During the subsequent weeks and months
an additional 67,000 people were evacuated from their homes in
contaminated areas and relocated on government order. In total
some 200,0000 people are believed to have been relocated as a
result of the accident.

Major health effects for exposed populations

There have been at least 1800 documented cases of thyroid cancer
children who were between 0 and 14 years of age when the
accident occurred., which is far higher than normal. The thyroid
gland of young children is particularly susceptible to the uptake
of radioactive iodine, which can trigger cancers, treatable both by
surgery and medication. Health studies of the registered cleanup
workers called in (so-called “liquidators”) have failed to show
any direct correlation between their radiation exposure and an
increase in other forms of cancer or disease. The psychological
affects of Chernobyl were and remain widespread and profound,
and have resulted for instance in suicides, drinking problems and
apathy.
Number of people died as an immediate result of the accident
The initial explosion resulted in the death of two workers.
Twenty-eight of the firemen and emergency clean-up workers
died in the first three months after the explosion from Acute
Radiation Sickness and one of cardiac arrest.

What happened to the environment and animals after the

accident
Mutations did occur in plants and animals after the plant
explosion. Leaves changed shape and some animals were born
with physical deformities. Despite the increased radiation levels,
rare species are now returning in large numbers to the area. These
animals include beavers, moose, wolves and wild boar, plus
species of birds.

cleaning process after the accident

Emergency workers (liquidators) were drafted into the area and
helped to clean up the plant premises and the surrounding area.
These workers were mostly plant employees, Ukrainian fire-
fighters plus many soldiers and miners from Russia, Belarus,
Ukraine and other parts of the former Soviet Union. The exact
number of liquidators is unknown because there are no
completely accurate records of the people involved in the clean-
up. The Russian registries list approximately 400,000 liquidators
as of 1991 and approximately 600,000 people were granted the
status of “liquidator”. These 600,000 individuals received special
benefits because of their involvement, on- and off-site, in tackling
the accident’s aftermath.
The duties of the liquidators varied. They worked on
decontamination and major construction projects, including the
establishment of settlements and towns for plant workers and
evacuees. They also built waste repositories, dams, water
filtration systems and the “sarcophagus”, which entombs the
entire fourth reactor to contain the remaining radioactive material.

ensure the safety of other RBMK reactors, so that this

scenario will not present itself again
Lessons learned from the accident were a significant driving force
behind a decade of IAEA assistance to the countries of Central
and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Much of this
work focused on identifying the weaknesses in and improving the
design safety of VVR and RBMK reactors. Upgrading was
performed on all RBMK units to eliminate the design deficiencies
which contributed to the Chernobyl accident, to improve
shutdown mechanisms and heighten general safety awareness
among staff. Just as important as the design safety work has been
the focus on operational safety and on systems of regulatory
oversight.
Conclusion
The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 was a tragic event that resulted in
the loss of lives, the displacement of communities, and long-
lasting environmental consequences. It also served as a wake-up
call to the world about the inherent risks of nuclear power and the
importance of stringent safety measures. The lessons learned
from Chernobyl continue to shape nuclear safety standards and
underscore the need for transparency and accountability in the
nuclear industry.