Chernobyl fire: Radiation background has not changed in Belarus

The fire near Chernobyl NPP was stopped only 5 kilometers away from a nuclear waste repository. A southerly wind is blowing in Belarus now (from Ukraine). However, the radiation background has not changed yet, Palesse Radiation Ecological wildlife preserve told Euroradio.

Employee of the wildlife preserve: “The radiation background has not changed. But we are keeping an eye on it. Fires can transport radionuclides but it depends on the direction of eth wind rose.”

The wind will change its direction to north-west in the evening, weathermen say. Chief whether forecaster Svyatlana Rybakova told Euroradio:

Svyatlana Rybakova: "The wind is blowing from the south and it is weak. The situation will improve by the evening. The wind will start blowing from the north and west and it will start raining.”

A huge fire in Ukraine’s Chernobyl zone was stopped only 20 kilometers away from the NPP. Rescuers managed to contain the fire in several spots, Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook.

Photo: mvs.gov.ua