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Bushfire rages in Chernobyl area as radiation 'exceeds norm'

This picture taken on April 10, 2020, shows a field fire burning at a 30-kilometer (19-mile) Chernobyl exclusion zone, not far from the nuclear power plant. (Photo by AFP)

Firefighters were battling the bushfires in the Chernobyl exclusion zone on Saturday (April 11) while Ukrainian Ministry of Emergencies reported dozens of hectares had burnt.

The fires were near the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which exploded in April 1986 and caused the world's worst nuclear accident.

After the explosion, people were evacuated and resettled from the 30 km (19 mile) exclusion zone around the nuclear plant, and the zone is still strictly controlled.

The fires began on April 3 in the western part of the exclusion zone and spread to nearby forests, some of which are in the part of the zone that still has higher radiation.

According to Ukrainian Ecology Inspection body statement radiation in the epicenter of the fire exceeds the norm.

Ukrainian Ministry of Emergencies has introduced hundreds of firefighters and hardware to the region, including helicopters and airplanes.

(Source: Reuters)


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