GHOST CITY 'PRIPYAT'

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13 Jan 2024

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PRIPYAT AND CHERNOBYL DISASTER

Where is Pripyat ?

Pripyat, also known as Prypiat, is an abandoned city with a population of 49,000 established in 1970 for the employees of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It is situated north of Kyiv, Ukraine.

What is Chernobyl?

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is located 130 km away from Kiev, Ukraine, and features four nuclear reactors of the RBMK-1000 type. The first and second units were constructed in 1970 and 1977, while the third and fourth units were completed in 1983. At the time of the accident, two additional units were under construction. The nearby city of Pripyat, situated 3 km from the plant, housed a population of 49,000, and Chernobyl city, located 15 km away, had a population of 12,500.

What is the reason for this accident?

There was an accident in Chernobyl that the authorities didn't want to acknowledge, so they tried to cover it up. The cause of the explosion was design flaws in the reactors and the disabling of the safety system for an experiment being attempted. This explosion marked the first major nuclear accident of the 20th century.

What was the purpose of the experiment ?

The experiment is focused on determining how long the turbines will continue to supply power to the main pumps when the main power source is lost. A similar experiment was conducted a year ago at the Chernobyl plant, and it was observed that the power from the turbine dropped very quickly. In this experiment, a new voltage regulator will be tested.

What happened on the day of the incident?

On the day of the incident, April 26, a series of events unfolded during an experiment at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Here is a summary of the developments on that day:

Experiment Preparation: On April 25, operators of Chernobyl's Reactor 4 prepared for an experiment to determine how long the turbines would provide power to the main pumps in the event of a loss of the main power source.
Experiment Initiation: The experiment was initiated in the early hours of April 26. During the experiment, the testing of a new voltage regulator was also planned.
Reactor Instability: Due to the different design of control rods during the experiment, the reactor became unstable. When the control rods entered the reactor, a power increase occurred.
Fuel Rod Fragmentation: Hot fuel rods broke apart upon contact with coolant, leading to excessive steam generation and pressure increase.
Reactor Damage: Due to the reactor's design features, significant damage occurred in 3 or 4 fuel assemblies. The excessive pressure increase resulted in the separation of the reactor's upper cap and damage to fuel channels.
Steam Explosion: Excessive steam generation caused a steam explosion, covering the core and leading to the release of fission products into the atmosphere.
Second Explosion: 2-3 seconds later, a second explosion occurred. In this explosion, fuel channels and hot graphite were dispersed into the environment. While the exact cause of the second explosion is uncertain, it is believed that the interaction of zirconium with steam produced hydrogen gas, leading to the explosion.
Radiation Leakage to the Environment: Fires caused by the explosions resulted in a significant release of radiation into the environment. The released activity was estimated to be a substantial radiation leak.

After the accident, operator Youri Kournev, who witnessed the resulting fire, said the following:

'I had never seen colors like this in my life. It was as if a rainbow emerged in the darkness of the night. Some areas were intensely red. It was like blood.

First response to Chernobyl

Following the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, initial interventions were rapidly conducted to bring the situation under control and minimize environmental impacts.
Extinguishing the Reactor and Dealing with Radiation: After the explosion, firefighting teams and plant personnel were assigned to extinguish fires and bring the reactor under control. However, understanding the reactor's condition and controlling the fires immediately after the explosion was challenging. About 200-300 tons of water per hour were supplied to the reactor, but this process was halted half a day later due to the risk of flooding the 1st and 2nd units. From the second to the tenth day, 5000 tons of boron, dolomite, sand, clay, and lead were dropped onto the burning core using helicopters to extinguish the fire and prevent the release of radioactive particles.

Radiation Measurements and Alarms: Special teams were deployed to measure radiation levels in Chernobyl and surrounding areas. When high radiation levels were detected, alarms were triggered, and the local population was warned.
Emergency Plans: Authorities implemented emergency plans to evacuate people living in surrounding areas and prevent the spread of radiation. The city of Pripyat and nearby settlements were abandoned.
Personnel Involved in the Intervention: Thousands of individuals, including firefighters, soldiers, healthcare workers, and other specialists, were assigned to emergency intervention. However, these individuals were exposed to high levels of radiation.

The initial interventions in Chernobyl marked the beginning of a challenging effort to limit the effects of the incident. Many individuals involved in this process showed great sacrifice, but the long-term and widespread consequences of the incident were significant.

City Evacuation

In the aftermath of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster, one of the critical measures taken was the evacuation of the nearby city, Pripyat, and surrounding areas. The evacuation process was a complex and urgent undertaking to safeguard the residents from the potential dangers of radiation exposure.

Immediate Actions: As the severity of the nuclear incident became apparent, authorities made the decision to evacuate Pripyat swiftly. On April 27, 1986, the day after the explosion, the evacuation order was issued. Residents were instructed to leave their homes with only essential belongings, anticipating a temporary displacement.
Evacuation Logistics: Buses and other available transportation means were mobilized to facilitate the evacuation. The operation aimed to relocate the entire population of Pripyat, numbering around 49,000 residents, to safer locations outside the immediate danger zone.
Limited Possessions: Evacuees were advised to bring only essential items, emphasizing the urgency and unpredictability of the situation. The need for a rapid evacuation meant that residents had to leave behind most of their belongings, and there was uncertainty about when, or if, they could return.
Uncertain Return: At the time of the evacuation, there was a lack of clear information about the extent of the radiation hazard and the duration of the evacuation. As a result, the displaced residents faced an uncertain future regarding their return to Pripyat.
Abandonment: Despite initial expectations of a short evacuation, Pripyat was eventually declared uninhabitable due to the persistent radiation risks. The city, once vibrant and populated, became a ghost town, left frozen in time as a haunting reminder of the Chernobyl disaster.

The evacuation of Pripyat was a poignant chapter in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, symbolizing the abrupt disruption and lasting impact on the lives of the residents.

The Consequences of Chernobyl

More than 3 million registered individuals are victims of Chernobyl.

Health Impacts: One of the most noticeable effects of the disaster is the adverse impact on human health in the region. The rate of thyroid cancer in adults has increased tenfold after the accident. Birth defects have risen by an average of 200% depending on the affected countries. It is expected that 7.1 million people will experience serious health problems in the future.
Environmental Effects: Radiation has also had severe effects on the natural life around Chernobyl. Forests, vegetation, and animal populations suffered. Some areas are still uninhabitable due to radioactive contamination. Scientists estimate that it may take 900 years for no one to be able to live there. The complete disappearance of all radioactive effects is speculated to require 48,000 years. Currently, 2.5 million hectares of agricultural land are unusable.
Evacuation and Abandoned Areas: Following the disaster, many areas around Chernobyl were evacuated, leaving people permanently homeless. Settlements such as the city of Pripyat turned into ghost towns.
Chernobyl Memorial: Monuments such as the Chernobyl Memorial and Museum were built to commemorate the tragedy and show respect for the event.
Change in Nuclear Energy Policies: After the Chernobyl disaster, many countries reevaluated their nuclear energy policies and focused on implementing safer measures. While some countries abandoned nuclear energy, others continued with safer designs and stricter controls.
International Collaboration: The Chernobyl disaster encouraged the international community to engage in closer collaboration on nuclear safety. International standards and cooperation mechanisms were established to prevent similar disasters and deal with such situations.
Nuclear Energy Safety Standards: Chernobyl contributed to the development of standards for the design, operation, and safety of nuclear power plants. Emphasis was placed on safer reactor designs and emergency measures.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster is a historic event that led to significant changes in the nuclear energy industry's safety standards and risk assessments.

Today in Pripyat

Pripyat still exists today as an abandoned city bearing the lingering effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 1986. Following the catastrophe, Pripyat and the surrounding areas became uninhabitable due to radioactive contamination. Here are some crucial points regarding the current state of Pripyat:

Abandoned City: Pripyat turned into an abandoned city immediately after the disaster. The inhabitants were swiftly evacuated to reduce the risk of radiation. However, despite being a ghost city today, some houses are marked with signs reading "The owner of this house lives here," indicating that a few people and various animals still inhabit these areas.
Radiation Levels: Radiation levels in Pripyat and its surroundings remain high. As a result, entry into the city is restricted and allowed only through controlled tours.
Ghost City: Pripyat stands as a ghost city with abandoned buildings, parks, schools, and other infrastructure. The former beauty and traces of life have deteriorated over time due to the impact of radiation.
Tourist Visits: Pripyat and its surroundings are visited by tourists today. Controlled tours provide visitors with an opportunity to witness the history of the city and the effects of the disaster.
Nuclear Power Plant: The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is still monitored under control and security measures today. The surrounding area requires limited access and special permission.
Chernobyl Memorial: The Chernobyl Memorial and Museum were constructed in the region to keep the memory of the disaster alive and show respect for this historic event.

Pripyat persists today as a place with limited human intervention, left to nature and still under the threat of radiation.

Thank you to everyone who read with interest. Below, you can find photos of Pripyat from the past to the present, recommended tour company links for those who want to visit, and links to series and documentaries related to the topic.

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