Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). During a safety test, a flawed reactor design and operator errors caused a massive explosion, releasing radioactive materials into the atmosphere. The disaster resulted in immediate deaths and long-term health issues for many. An area around the plant was evacuated and remains largely uninhabitable. The incident raised global awareness about nuclear safety and led to significant changes in regulations and practices in the nuclear industry to prevent similar disasters in the future.