THE cloud of radiation spewed out by the world’s worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl 20 years ago could kill up to 60,000 people – 15 times as many as officially estimated. So say scientists who are accusing two UN organisations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ Organization (WHO), of downplaying the impact of the accident.
Chernobyl reactor number 4 in Ukraine was ripped apart by an explosion on 26 April 1986, and burned for 10 days. It disgorged a massive amount of radioactivity – up to 14 exabecquerels (14 × 1018 becquerels) – over Europe and…
