The Chernobyl accident took place on April 26, 1986, at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, resulting in a massive explosion and fire that released radioactive particles into the atmosphere and affected a wide area of Western USSR and Europe.
The explosion occurred during a safety test, which resulted in a power surge in the reactor.
The explosion and subsequent fire caused the release of radioactive material, which contaminated an area of more than 2,600 square miles.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of two plant workers, and 28 firefighters and plant workers died within the following three months from acute radiation sickness.
The accident resulted in the evacuation of over 350,000 people from the surrounding areas, many of whom have never returned to their homes.
The exclusion zone around the power plant, which is a radius of about 18 miles, remains uninhabitable to this day due to high radiation levels.
The disaster significantly impacted the environment, causing widespread environmental damage and the deaths of many animals and plants.
The accident was the most severe in the history of the Soviet Union's nuclear power program and one of the worst nuclear accidents in history.
The accident led to significant safety regulations and oversight changes in the Soviet Union and other countries with nuclear power plants.
The accident also led to the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Incident and Emergency Centre to coordinate an international response to nuclear accidents.
The long-term health effects of the disaster continue to be studied and debated, with some studies suggesting an increase in certain types of cancer among those exposed to radiation.
