Ucraine: Tchernobyl - It's Special Atmosphere After 25 Years

All that happened early morning ,on 26th April 1986, in the fourth reactor of Tchernobyl Nuclear Power Station, and a human factor caused such disaster. Power station undergone delayed test which could prove inert turbo-generator run in this reactor. Time shifting for relay change was prolonged - this afternoon with night shift - where less experienced ingenieurs (operators) were available there. Moreover, insufficient information-change, regarding reactor situation - was effected. So, the biggest thermo-nuclear catastroph in human history begun.

Today´s Tchernobyl is placed in closed zone, watched with competent authorities, i.e. by army units and police. The entrance is impossible without necessary permit. An experienced guide accompanied us during our stay there, and it is a must for everybody who would like to move inside power station. It is necessary, first of all, to protect your safety, as many buildings are in so bad state that there is dangerous to move inside. As the second moment, it is a fact that very strong radiation remains in many places. Nevertheless, with the exception of some matters, we were allowed to walk liberately around.

It is true that the radioactivity dissiades many persons from visit of such place. Provided you arrive there, you could resist especially beta-rays radiation but this way of radiation disappears  soon from human´s body. So, drinking of red wine could enable the speed of such process. We were recommended to drink two litres of red wine during two days. The worse situation occurs in case of gama-rays radiation. Such rays would be kept in human´s body for ever. But, this fact occurs in strictly forbidden zones, where the entrance is not permitted.

Close to the nuclear power station, new sarcophagus is being constructed, supported with donations from some countries. Its vitality is esteemed to exceed 100 years and its functionality would start since 2015. Whereas the builders are hardly working on such new covering, also the old sarcophagus is currently repaired, in order its vital power could also be prolonged.

After certain time period, even several original inhabitants returned to Tchernobyl. These are, first of all, older persons, who could not move or did not wish to leave the area. Anyway, they die subsequently there. Their actual age average reaches 75 years. All such persons live in their original houses. However, the environment is changing slowly into groves and forests as nobody is looking after the vegetation.

The people receive there letters, correspondence and their rents, even post-office is open in Tchernobyl. There is no problem with doctor´s visits nor with medicines, the only exception is that the medicins have to be supplied for stock. In general, the people do not complain of their standard of living, they remember old passed times, when the town was full of busy life. However, the visit in the home of one woman, let in us rather sad impression. After an average, this woman returned back among the first ones. She had good luck, she never suffered from health problems, caused by radiation. But now, the knuckles pain her a little.

Irrespective of all facts, Tchernobyl is full of special atmosphere, and nobody could be cool in such respect. While walking through small streets of this locality, very busy in past,  you cannot prevent your thought for tragedy which happened there. Such reality is always reminded with the silhouette of nuclear power station in the horizon.

Text/photo: Mária Koczová

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš