The effects of Chernobyl, in the first person: this destroyed the nuclear accident one of the neighboring cities

Broken buildings, dogs contaminated by radiation and a vegetation that advances especially and where previously there were streets, posters, and benches, there are now branches and leaves that cover everything. This scene gives Pripyat, the "ghost town" that Nelson Castro visited on Monday, 33 years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

The effects of the worst nuclear accident in history are found in every corner of the city, which was evacuated completely 36 hours after the explosion of the Ukrainian factory on April 26, 1986.

Founded on February 4, 1970 with the aim to give home to the workers at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat has sheltered more than 40,000 people during its 16 years of life. Today it is sorry.

"We can not touch anything"said the reporter, walking among the ruins. "You can see, for example, that the floor was parquet and that the building was impressive, there is nothing left," he said.

Located just three kilometers from the nuclear power plant, Pripyat was characterized by bright signs and ceramic decorations on the facades of its buildings. In addition, the architects responsible for its construction had the intention of integrating nature into the urban landscape. This nature has covered it.

With the Energetik Cultural Center, Lenin Boulevard and the Administration Building, Pripyat cafeteria was one of the most remarkable places. But after the Chernobyl disaster, the radiation levels on this site exceed four to five times the limits allowed by Ukrainian law.

After the explosion of reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat had to be evacuated and has been left at the mercy of the effects of radiation for the past 33 years. Currently, visitors can see a city frozen in time, where clothes, photographs and toys left in their buildings reflect the speed with which their inhabitants had to escape to save their lives.

The radiation levels in this "ghost town" are so high that it is estimated that it will take several centuries before the area can become habitable again. For this reason, those who arrive there must wear a dosimeter and are prohibited from staying overnight due to the presence of wild animals such as wild boars, wolves and foxes.

The sarcophagus

Nelson Castro also visited the imposing "Chernobyl"sarcophagus"which contains the most dangerous nuclear waste in the world". The huge container covers the fourth reactor of the nuclear power plant, which exploded during a routine test and caused a real disastera fire that lasted nine days and resulted in a disaster with unimaginable consequences.

The "sarcophagus" costs billions of dollars and is gigantic: it is 108 meters high, 162 long, has a bow of 275 meters and weighs 36,000 tons. Will have a life of 100 years, but it will not even be minimal enough, because it is estimated that the radiation emanating from the place will last at least 100,000 years.

He works around 3000 people for only four days and then they leave. Silence reigns instead, in a scenario very different from that of 33 years ago, when the area was very populous.