Chernobyl on fire as huge massive blaze spark panic in nuclear accident exclusion zone | World | News
A huge forest fire broke out in Chernobyl, where fear of a new nuclear accident prevailed due to Russia’s attacks. The large-scale fire in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine’s Kiev region has already spread to 1,100 hectares (4.2 miles), Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) said.
The fire spread rapidly in the region due to the strong wind and spread to new areas of the forest. The presence of landmines and the risk of unexploded ordnance in certain parts of the area make these areas inaccessible to emergency services, forcing crews to cease operations. A spokesman for ES said: “The situation is further complicated by dry weather, strong winds and the mine hazard in certain parts of the region, which significantly limits the possibility of extinguishing efforts.
“Especially in some forest blocks, no work is temporarily carried out due to the threat of explosives.”
The SES said rescue teams were working in an “intensified mode” where they focused on containing the fire and stopping it from spreading further.
The growing fire prompted a major emergency response, with teams from State Emergency Service units, special equipment forces and other services helping to extinguish the fire.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued an urgent warning following the deadly incident at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant last month.
The ongoing war has wreaked havoc on the region after the protective dome over the reactor that exploded in Ukraine’s Chernobyl in 1986 was damaged in an alleged Russian attack last February.
Although €500 million worth of repairs were underway to restore the New Secure Confinement (NSC), the facility continued to suffer serious disruptions due to conflict.
“Missiles from the Russians are still being fired at Chernobyl,” said Shaun Burnie, Greenpeace Ukraine’s senior nuclear expert.
“We have been here for 40 years and Russia is still effectively waging a nuclear war against the people of Ukraine and Europe,” he added.
