Here's What Chernobyl Looks Like Now
If, like most of us, you'd rather click through a gallery of what remains of Chernobyl than risk being exposed to radiation, here's a digital Chernobyl tour.
The town of Chernobyl was evactuated after the nuclear accident that occurred in 1986. Prior to the explosion at Reactor 4, around 14,000 people resided in Chernobyl. Today, there are about 500—which consists of elderly couples who refused to evacuate and several Exclusion Zone workers who work there (on a very temporary basis) to contain the radioactivity. Although you can still tour parts of the town, the buildings and items that remain give the place serious ghost town vibes. In some parts, you will still find dismembered dolls and pictures of loved ones.
April 26, 2019 marked the 33rd anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, and HBO's new TV series has renewed interest. Authorities report a 30% increase in tourist demands, and tourist operators are forecasting that the number of visitors may double up to 150,000 people this year.
If, like most of us, you'd rather click through a gallery of what remains of Chernobyl as opposed to risking being exposed to radiation, here's what you would see on a Chernobyl tour.
Debris After the Chernobyl Explosion
Firefighters were not aware just how deadly and dangerous the radiation was when they rushed in to contain the fire from the intial explosion. At least one would die days later from acute radiation poisoning.