Chernobyl at 40: The Legacy of the World's Deadliest Nuclear Catastrophe

Forty years ago, on April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic meltdown, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material across Europe. The disaster, which occurred during a late-night safety test, remains the worst nuclear accident in history. The explosion and subsequent fire killed 31 people directly and forced the evacuation of over 100,000 residents from the surrounding area. The long-term health effects, including spikes in thyroid cancer, continue to be studied. Today, the site is encased in a massive steel shelter, but the exclusion zone remains a haunting reminder of the risks of nuclear power.