Chernobyl at Risk

Chernobyl’s at risk of becoming a catastrophe again if the IAEA does not supply “immediate assistance.” With the recent crisis, it is becoming increasingly apparent Ukraine needs aid, especially toward its nuclear plants, which need to be safely maintained. “Ukraine already has experience with nuclear catastrophe. In 1986, a reactor at Chernobyl exploded. Now, officials are working to prevent history from repeating itself. Several layers of safety systems would have to fail for such a disaster to happen again. But conflict could poke holes in those existing safety nets” (The Verge). “Six reactors generate 40-42 billion kWh of electricity, making the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant the largest in Ukraine. Russian officials told the IAEA that it has “taken control of the territory around” Zaporizhzhia” (The Verge). Ukraine could take steps to help prevent a nuclear meltdown from happening, but those measures are not the easiest to commit to, such as portable pumps that they could bring to extinguish the melting fuel. If a nuclear complication happens, it could affect the neighboring countries and cause much damage. While she could not precisely reveal what the IAEA will provide, Grossi said that they would inspect the place at an unidentified time in the future. While it may seem this situation is dire, help should come along soon enough.