Chernobyl burns big, the radiation level in the area is 16 times higher than normal

On Saturday, a fire broke out in the forested area of ​​the no-entry zone at Chernobyl. The area is contaminated with up to 2,600 square kilometers, and according to major newspapers, the fire occurred near the village of Volodymyrivka.

' This is bad news. The level of radiation has surpassed the normal limit in the center of the fire, '' said Yegor Firsov, head of the Ukrainian ecology inspectorate.

Specifically, in areas where the flame licks through, the radiation level is up to 2.3 microsievert / h (the sievert unit is denoted by 'Sv', which is a measure of the amount of ionized radiation absorption that tissue on the body. we absorb it; the microsievert unit has the symbol μSv). Normally, the normal radiation level in this area is only 0.14 μSv / h, ie the level measured in the fire center is 16 times higher than the allowed level.

An area near the fire has a radiation level of 0.34 μSv, still higher than allowed.

When the nuclear plant exploded on April 26, 1986, all residents within a radius of several kilometers around the explosion had to be evacuated. Until now, local authorities have restricted the access to this restricted area for fear of the spread of radioactive materials affecting human health. No more human, animal and plant growth again, and forest fires in the area of ​​the old nuclear plant have become commonplace.

At the moment, firefighters are facing 2 fires. The larger fire spread to 200,000 m ² , requiring 124 firefighters and 42 fire fighters, while the small fire spread over 48,500 m ² . Firefighters are still trying to control the two flames.

However, Mr. Firsov also advises people not to panic, but can still open windows to open houses during this social isolation. He thought that man was the cause of the fire, and that more severe sanctions were needed, lest ' big fires continue to fall every fall and spring '.