Moldova marks 39 years since Chernobyl nuclear disaster; accident's victims commemorated in more settlements

Moldova today marks 39 years since reactor four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, affecting the entire Europe. During the fire, which consumed the reactor for ten days, huge amounts of radioactive substances were released into the atmosphere.

Thirty nine years ago, the plant was operating at full capacity, with all four reactors, each having a production capacity of 1GW per day. At that time, the plant covered 10 per cent of the energy needs of the former Soviet republic.

The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 spread a radioactive cloud over large parts of the Soviet Union, now territories of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Thus, almost 8.4 million people from these countries were exposed to radiation.

The Soviet government recognized the need for international assistance only in 1990. In the same year, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution and called for international cooperation to address the problem and mitigate the consequences at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Since 1986, UN organizations and most non-governmental organizations have launched over 230 research and assistance projects in the fields of health, nuclear safety, rehabilitation and the environment.

The other three reactors continued to produce electricity till December 2000. Given that the hastily-built concrete sarcophagus in 1986 over the reactor was at risk of collapsing, leaving 200 tons of magma with a very high level of radioactivity exposed, the international community committed to funding the construction of a safer containment structure. Thus, a metal arch weighing 25 tons and 110 meters high was constructed to be placed over the cracked sarcophagus. The required amount was 2.2 billion euros, provided by over 45 donor countries, through funds managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

According to a study, almost one million people worldwide have died due to radioactive contamination caused by the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant’s disaster. Besides the former USSR states, the worst hit countries were Norway, Sweden, Finland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Austria, Romania, Greece and extensive parts of Germany and the United Kingdom.

The victims of the disaster are annually commemorated in Moldova. Flower laying ceremonies and commemoration events are organized in their memory.

According to official data, 3,550 Moldovans participated in relief works at the power plant, of whom 1,865 are still alive. Internationally, every third participant involved in liquidating the Chernobyl disaster has passed away.