dec 31, 1985 - Chernobyl
Description:
The 1986 nuclear meltdown of the Chernobyl power plant -- in what was then the Soviet Union and is now Ukraine -- was the worst commercial nuclear incident in history. The explosion released radioactive material that blew over much of Eastern Europe. Some 32 people died directly from the incident, and thousands have suffered health problems believed to be caused by the meltdown. As of 2002, more than 4,000 cases of thyroid cancer had been documented in children who lived near the disaster zone, with most cases linked to exposure to radioactivity.
Added to timeline:
inquiry timeline
UN goal #7
Date:
