Chernobyl Wildfires Reignite, Stirring Up Radiation
A field fire burning on Friday in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine.Volodymyr Shuvayev/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
VINNYTSIA, Ukraine — Firefighters have struggled to control wildfires burning through radioactive forest in the abandoned territory around the Chernobyl nuclear plant, where radiation levels are considerably lower than they were immediately after the 1986 accident but still pose risks.
Radiation readings near the wildfires, where smoke is swirling about, have been elevated, with the wind blowing toward rural areas of Russia and Belarus for most of the past week. The wind shifted Friday toward Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, but authorities say the radiation level is still normal in the city, whose population is about three million.
But Saturday’s strong winds could spread the fires to the remnants of the nuclear plant and the equipment that was used to clean up the disaster, said Kateryna Pavlova, the acting head of the agency that oversees the area, in a telephone interview. “At the moment, we cannot say the fire is contained,” Ms. Pavlova said.
After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, authorities created an area around the plant known as the Zone of Alienation, a rough circle with a nearly 18-mile radius, fenced off with barbed wire. Access to the zone is limited to workers who manage the site and tourists who take guided excursions.
Over time, radiation has settled into the soil, where its half-life ticks away mostly harmlessly. But the roots of moss, trees and other vegetation have absorbed some radiation, bringing it to the surface and spreading radioactive particles in smoke when it burns.
Already in lockdown because of the coronavirus, Ukraine is now also contending with fires in the post-apocalyptic landscape of the Chernobyl zone.
Firefighters trying to extinguish a fire.State Emergency Service Of Ukraine, via Reuters
Wildfires break out there often but the blazes burning through dry grass and
Which authorities are saying there is no radiation in Kyiv – the same ones that kept the entire accident under wraps for 5 days in 1986, until the winds brought radiation over other countries? For five days Kyiv lived under radioactive rain without amy protection!
People have been exploring the “Alienation zone” from the very beginning, collecting radioactive berries and mushrooms and selling them at the markets throughout Ukraine. In 1995 in Odessa I saw wild straberries the size of plums. I had been forewarned not to buy any fresh fruit or berries on the market that looked oversized. But people who sold those picked them in the zone!
Are you from the Ukraine?
Not any of us are geo physicists, nuclear engineers or from that region. We know that nuclear contamination needs 100 subside. Maybe this link might answer your questions- https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Ukraine/Ukraine.htm
Yes I am; I am from Odessa, even though Odessa is fighting to separate from Ukraine. I do not believe any information that comes from there!
Ha! God bless the Ukraine, the world and the US. The seed of all corrupt government is injustice seated in the courts.
You are so right, darling!