21 Mar 2022 16:53

Fires in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone fraught with radiological situation worsening - authorities

KYIV. March 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, citing the center for forecasting the consequences of radiological accidents at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center of the State Emergency Service, has warned about the possibility of a further deterioration of the radiological situation in the Exclusion Zone around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant due to forest fires.

"The center has informed about the worsening of the radiation status in the Exclusion Zone and outside of it as a result of forest fires in the areas contaminated by radiation," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said on Facebook.

At the same time, the inspectorate pointed out that according to The Fire Information for Resource Management System website, the fire affected areas were recorded mostly in the west and central parts of the Exclusion Zone on March 11-18, 2022, and they covered the area of over eight square kilometers as of March 18. The fires covered the area of five square kilometers on March 17 and about 14 square kilometers on March 11, it said.