35 Years Of Chernobyl Tragedy (32 pics)
The explosion was caused by a flawed testing procedure and was the equivalent to 66 tons of TNT going off at one time. The explosion not only blasted away the roof of the reactor’s 20-story building, but completely destroyed everything in the core while ejecting 28 tons of highly radioactive debris into the immediate area surrounding it.
On top of all of that, it began a radioactive fire that burned for nearly two weeks while releasing a plume of radioactive gasses and aerosols into the atmosphere.
With radioactive particles ripping through the everything that it came in contact with, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was set up 36 hours after the incident. Evacuations of the zone began and Pripyat, a town of nearly 50,000 residents, was evacuated.
To this day, Pripyat remains a ghost town. Tourists are able to visit the town now as they offer tours and incredible views of what life was in the Ukraine before one of the greatest catastrophes the world has ever seen.
Urban photographer Janine Pendleton of Obsidian Urbex Photography visited Chernobyl several years ago. You may remember her photos of Fukushima.
As we pause to take a moment to remember the 5 million people affected by the meltdown, here are some of her photos of what Pripyat looks like today.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant graffiti.
Pripyat Post Office & Shops.
DUGA-3 Antenna System.
Pripyat Hospital No. 126
Pripyat Azure Swimming Pool
Chernobyl 2-Sports Hall
Pripyat Middle School #3 ("Gas Mask School")
