Heavy snow causes partial roof collapse at Chernobyl, Ukrainian officials say

The area in pink indicates the location of the roof collapse. It is about 50 meters (165 feet) away from the “sarcophagus,” a shelter built shortly after the 1986 disaster to contain radiation emanating from the exploded reactor.

February 14, 2013 – KIEV, Ukraine – Ukrainian officials on Wednesday sought to reassure the public that radiation levels were unaffected at Chernobyl and there was no safety threat, after a partial roof collapse at the exploded nuclear power plant. A 600-square-meter (6,500-square-foot) section of the roof over the turbine hall at the fourth power block collapsed Tuesday, Chernobyl plant spokeswoman Maya Rudenko told The Associated Press. The collapse was caused by heavy snowfall, emergency authorities said. Rudenko said the affected area is about 50 meters (165 feet) away from the “sarcophagus,” a shelter built shortly after the 1986 disaster to contain radiation emanating from the exploded reactor. Rudenko said the radiation levels were normal and there was no danger to the public. “Everybody should be absolutely calm,” Rudenko said. “Yes, it is unpleasant, but there is no danger.” The April 26, 1986, accident in the then-Soviet republic of Ukraine sent a cloud of radioactive fallout over much of Europe and forced the evacuation of about 115,000 people from the plant’s vicinity. A 30-kilometer (19-mile) area directly around the plant remains largely off-limits. A new giant arch-shaped confinement is currently being constructed over the old sarcophagus. The construction of the new shelter was not affected by the accident, said Anton Usov, spokesman for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which runs the $2 billion project co-sponsored by the bank and international donors. –NY Daily

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