A Timeline
April 25, 1986: Crew gathers at the fourth reactor (Chernobyl 4) prepared a test to see if the turbines could produce enough energy to keep coolant pumps running, which followed in a loss of main electrical power.
12:00 AM, April 26,1986: After delays of the test, the test began April 26, which caused all emergency coolant systems to shut off. Due to the design of the reactors, they cannot run very well on low power sources.
1:23 AM, April 26, 1989: Reactor 4 exploded, triggering the 1,000 metric ton lid to be torn off the reactor which led to ruptured the remaining pressure tubes leading to another, more powerful explosion. Fuel rods then melted and mixed with the graphite causing numerous fires. Nuclear fission, debris from the explosion, and smoke rose to an estimated 1 kilometer above Chernobyl. Lethal amounts of radiation were leaked into the atmosphere for 10 days
April 27, 1986: 36 hours after the accident residents were evacuated and were complaining about headaches, sickness, and other symptoms of radiation poisoning. Officials declared people could return in a few days, but later revealed Pripyat could not be safe for human habitation for 24,000 years.
Aftermath: One body of the worker killed immediately after the explosion was never recovered.
Another worker died days after due to injuries of the explosions.
Within several weeks 28 more people died from acute radiation poisoning.
May 2, 1986: 30 km evacuation zone was designed.
World Health Organization estimated there has been 4,000 reports of thyroid cancer caused by radiation exposure.
1986-1987: 35,000 clean up workers or liquidators were recruited to start cleaning up Chernobyl. Majority of workers were exposed to high dosages of radiation.
12:00 AM, April 26,1986: After delays of the test, the test began April 26, which caused all emergency coolant systems to shut off. Due to the design of the reactors, they cannot run very well on low power sources.
1:23 AM, April 26, 1989: Reactor 4 exploded, triggering the 1,000 metric ton lid to be torn off the reactor which led to ruptured the remaining pressure tubes leading to another, more powerful explosion. Fuel rods then melted and mixed with the graphite causing numerous fires. Nuclear fission, debris from the explosion, and smoke rose to an estimated 1 kilometer above Chernobyl. Lethal amounts of radiation were leaked into the atmosphere for 10 days
April 27, 1986: 36 hours after the accident residents were evacuated and were complaining about headaches, sickness, and other symptoms of radiation poisoning. Officials declared people could return in a few days, but later revealed Pripyat could not be safe for human habitation for 24,000 years.
Aftermath: One body of the worker killed immediately after the explosion was never recovered.
Another worker died days after due to injuries of the explosions.
Within several weeks 28 more people died from acute radiation poisoning.
May 2, 1986: 30 km evacuation zone was designed.
World Health Organization estimated there has been 4,000 reports of thyroid cancer caused by radiation exposure.
1986-1987: 35,000 clean up workers or liquidators were recruited to start cleaning up Chernobyl. Majority of workers were exposed to high dosages of radiation.