Original photographs of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

This lot contains 4 photographs (3 color, one black and white)

Accident on April 26, 1986, liquidation of consequences, evacuation

On April 26, 1986, at 1:23 a.m., during a design test of turbine generator No. 8 at power unit No. 4, a hydrothermal explosion occurred, which completely destroyed the reactor. The power unit building and the roof of the turbine hall partially collapsed. More than 30 fires broke out in various rooms and on the roof. The main fires on the roof of the turbine room were extinguished by 2:10 a.m. and on the roof of the reactor compartment by 2:30 a.m. By 5 o'clock on April 26, the fire was extinguished

   During the first three months after the accident, 31 people died, and another 19 deaths from 1987 to 2004 can presumably be attributed to its direct consequences. 134 people from among the liquidators suffered acute radiation sickness of varying severity. High doses of radiation to people, mainly emergency workers and liquidators, have caused or may cause four thousand additional deaths from long-term effects of radiation. Nevertheless, these figures are significantly less than the number of victims attributed to the Chernobyl disaster by public opinion.