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Roof over Chernobyl plant’s unit four partially collapses because of snow

The radiation situation at the plant and in the exclusion zone is normal

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

KIEV, February 12 (Itar-Tass) – The roof over the idling turbine island of the Chernobyl nuclear plant’s unit four, where the disastrous accident took place back in 1986, partially collapsed because of thick blanket of snow, the nuclear plant’s administration said on Tuesday.

“There are no safety hazards. The radiation situation at the plant and in the exclusion zone is normal. No one was hurt,” the administration said.

According to Dmitry Bobro, the first deputy director of the state agency for the management of the exclusion zone, several concrete panels collapsed in the turbine island. “It cannot affect the radiation background. The situation is not even classified as an emergency,” he added. The collapsed area is about 600 meters, he noted. Rescuers are clearing the debris and removing snow.

The turbine island used to service the plant’s all four power units. After the station was decommissioned, its turbines were shut down. Personnel makes periodical inspections of the equipment.

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