On April 26th, 1986, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine failed violently during a scheduled test of the turbine system. The power of the reactor increased out of control from a low-power state, rapidly boiling water and causing a steam explosion that blew the roof off the the reactor. A graphite fire was ignited, spewing toxic radioactive substances into the atmosphere. 31 people were killed during the accident, and it has been estimated that the released radiation has caused an additional 4,000 cancer deaths.

Here, you can find out what caused the Chernobyl accident and why we are convinced that nothing like this could happen again. Check the links to the right for our collection of information on Chernobyl.