31 killed in major nuclear accident at Chernobyl plant in Ukraine 30 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1986)


Video: 'Seconds From Disaster - Meltdown at Chernobyl - FULL - NuclearAdvisor.com'

(Saturday, April 26, 1986, 1:23 a.m. MSK; during the Cold War) — The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred this morning at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Pripyat, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union), killing at least 31 Soviets died immediately.

An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes in the most heavily hit areas.