The contents of the sarcophagus will remain radioactive for 100,000 years.
Levels of radiation inside are 'suicidal'.
Scientists investigating are driven by the fear of a second accident at Chernobyl. The fuel rods are climbable through..
In part, errors made by the team and a errors made within the design of the reactor.
Radiation and radioactive dust threatens anyone inside the reactor.
Some rooms, they're only allowed only to be in for 10 mins. In areas that are high in radiation, they have to move fast.
Scientists were wearing only cotton wool masks.
Mistakes happen all the time, equipment outside isn't ready.
After 20 mins of waiting, they're finally underway - only 5 mins left to take the reading!
Whilst dropping chemicals to absorb the radiation, many pilots died as a result of super-high radiation posioning.
They now know, despite their sacrifice, almost no neutron-absorbers were dropped in the right place - none got into the core.
Then on the 6th of may, the emissions stopped.
The reactor lies in the sarcophagus. The 2000 tonne lid had been blown off in the explosion and had landed on its side, into the mouth, the core was scattered. Desperate for info - complex expedition were sent in.
Basement rooms were looked into in block 4 in the knowledge the reactor may explode once again
"At that time there were no places in the Block which were not dangerous, not by normal human standards It was dangerous for everyone. We entered fields of 100, 200 and 250 roentgens per hour, so we had to rush back. This kind of situation could crop up quite unexpectedly.You're walking down a corridor and the levels are not too bad, 1 to 5 roentgens per hour. Then you turn the corner - and suddenly, it's 500 Roentgens! You have to turn and run for it. That was really dangerous." ~ Viktor Popov, Complex Expedition.
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