What happened at Chernobyl

Chernobyl was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine). It was caused by a flawed reactor design, coupled with human error during a safety test. The reactor's core overheated, resulting in a steam explosion and a subsequent graphite fire. This released a significant amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere, contaminating the surrounding area and causing the evacuation of nearby towns. The accident resulted in immediate deaths and long-term health consequences for the affected population. A concrete sarcophagus, called the "Chernobyl Shelter," was constructed to contain the damaged reactor. The area remains highly contaminated and is now a restricted zone.