WAS THE RESULT OF A FLAWED REACTOR DESIGN THAT WAS OPERATED WITH INADEQUATELY TRAINED PERSONNEL.

---

AND FIRES RELEASED AT LEAST 5% OF THE RADIOACTIVE REACTOR CORE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, WITH THE DEPOSITION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE.

---

PLANT WORKERS DIED DUE TO THE EXPLOSION ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, AND A FURTHER 28 PEOPLE DIED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AS A RESULT OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME.

---

ON THE EFFECTS OF ATOMIC RADIATION HAS CONCLUDED THAT, APART FROM SOME 6500 THYROID CANCERS (RESULTING IN 15 FATALITIES), "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT ATTRIBUTABLE TO RADIATION EXPOSURE 20 YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT."

---

SOME 350,000 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT RESETTLEMENT OF AREAS FROM WHICH PEOPLE WERE RELOCATED IS ONGOING.