L'histoire complète et sans censure de TCHERNOBYL
100% DOCS・2 minutes read
Firefighters control the fire at a power station in Pripyat, Ukraine, known as the most famous ghost town globally after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, which led to severe radiation exposure, massive evacuations, and the construction of the Chernobyl arch to contain radioactive remains.
Insights
- The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 resulted in a massive release of radioactive materials due to a meltdown in reactor number 4, causing severe health consequences for firefighters and liquidators who faced fatal radiation doses, highlighting the urgent need for containment efforts and massive evacuations to mitigate the disaster's impact.
- The construction of the Chernobyl arch, a monumental structure enveloping the old sarcophagus, was initiated to contain the radioactive remains of the power plant and facilitate the dismantling of reactor core number 4, emphasizing the long-lasting impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the environment and human health, requiring innovative engineering solutions to manage radioactive waste for thousands of years.
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Recent questions
What caused the Chernobyl disaster?
Safety test on reactor number 4
How did firefighters respond to the Chernobyl disaster?
Controlled the fire but suffered severe radiation exposure
What measures were taken to contain the radioactivity at Chernobyl?
Dumped sand on the reactor and constructed a sarcophagus
What was the purpose of the Chernobyl arch?
To envelop the old sarcophagus and withstand extreme conditions
How did the Chernobyl disaster impact the environment and human health?
Long-lasting consequences on both environment and health
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Summary
00:00
Chernobyl Disaster: Firefighters' Heroic Sacrifice
- Firefighters managed to control the fire in the power station after three hours of intervention.
- Pripyat in Ukraine is known as the most famous ghost town globally, remaining untouched since the 1970s.
- A hidden poison has spread in Pripyat due to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986.
- The Chernobyl disaster occurred during a safety test on reactor number 4 on April 26, 1986.
- The RBMK reactor at Chernobyl was 15 times larger than Western reactors, with 200 tons of uranium fuel.
- The safety test led to a rapid increase in reactor power, triggering alarms and confusion among operators.
- The reactor's power surged to 30,000 megawatts, causing a meltdown and the release of radioactive materials.
- The Chernobyl firefighters, unaware of the radiation danger, controlled the fire but suffered severe radiation exposure.
- Radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster caused firefighters to experience fatal radiation doses within hours.
- The Chernobyl disaster led to the creation of the Chernobyl arch, a massive structure to contain the radioactive remains of the power plant.
21:23
Chernobyl Disaster: Radioactivity, Evacuation, and Cleanup
- Radioactivity is widespread after the Chernobyl disaster, with no warnings issued by Russian authorities.
- Helicopter observations reveal reactor number 4 is exposed, emitting highly radioactive smoke.
- Radioactivity levels are extreme, posing a severe threat to all life in the vicinity.
- Evacuation of nearby towns, starting with Pripiat, becomes urgent due to the escalating disaster.
- Massive evacuation efforts are undertaken, displacing 200,000 people from the area.
- Engineers dump sand on the reactor to contain the radioactivity, but it leads to the formation of a dangerous magma.
- Miners are tasked with digging a tunnel to prevent the magma from reaching the water table.
- A sarcophagus project is planned to encase the entire power plant, requiring extensive cleanup by liquidators.
- Liquidators, including Boris Istamine and Natalia Manzurova, face extreme radiation exposure and health consequences.
- The psychological toll of radiation exposure is highlighted, with long-lasting effects on the liquidators' mental and physical health.
44:28
Chernobyl Arch: Protecting Against Radiation for Decades
- Construction of the sarcophagus at Chernobyl began three months after the disaster, with dimensions of 170 meters long by 70 meters wide and 66 meters high, requiring 400,000 cubic meters of concrete and 7,300 tons of metal, equivalent to the Eiffel Tower's framework.
- The sarcophagus aimed to cover the destroyed reactor, protecting against intense radiation, with parts pre-machined and assembled on-site like a puzzle, featuring innovative dust suppression systems under the roof.
- The initial sarcophagus showed signs of deterioration, leading to the construction of the Chernobyl arch, a massive structure enveloping the old sarcophagus, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, tornadoes, and earthquakes, costing over 1.5 billion euros.
- The Chernobyl arch, designed to last 100 years, will facilitate the dismantling of reactor core number 4, managing radioactive waste for thousands of years, with the Chernobyl disaster's long-lasting impact on the environment and human health still relevant.
