Chernobyl: Design. Denial. Fallout.Episode 11:59Free
The Alarm Moscow Couldn't Hide
A reactor explodes in Soviet Ukraine, but the outside world discovers the secret through radiation alarms in Sweden.
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Transcript
The explosion and fire destroyed the reactor building.
April 26th, 1986, a safety test became history's worst nuclear accident.
The plant had four reactors; technicians lost control during a low-power test.
Near the analog equipment, a Soviet technician warned the team: Watch the gauges. Keep checking the warning lamps.
The blast and fire destroyed the reactor building around Number Four.
A graphite fire kept burning; reactor-hall radiation was certainly above lethal levels.
A continuing graphite fire was a major problem for rescuers and plant personnel.
The explosion emitted 500 times more radiation than Hiroshima's atomic bomb.
Chernobyl caused widespread radioactive contamination and enormous concern.
Soviet authorities delayed admitting the disaster and minimized coverage at home.
Power controlled the message, but monitoring instruments kept recording.
Swedish authorities detected radiation and demanded answers after Soviet officials didn't notify neighboring countries.
Norway recorded radiation 60 times above normal.
The evidence had crossed borders before the explanation did.
April 28th, 1986, the Soviet Council of Ministers reported reactor damage.
U.S. intelligence assessed extensive damage and a large explosion in Reactor Four's hall.
Plant officials cited protective clothing and repeated radiation checks as safeguards.
Officials called properly developed nuclear power absolutely safe.
One diplomat saw protective clothing and repeated radiation checks as proof of safety.
Where it leaves off
But before the world could understand Sweden's alarm, Moscow's silence had to be traced back to a plant once presented as absolutely safe.
Sources
- Chernobyl Before It Was CHERNOBYL! – The Text Messagetext-message.blogs.archives.govsecondary
- Historical Documents - Office of the Historianhistory.state.govprimary
- Introduction - Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Chornobyl, Ukraine: A Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congressguides.loc.govsecondary
- The Chernobyl Accident 20 Years On: An Assessment of the Health Consequences and the International Response - PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govsecondary
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