What was the largest nuclear meltdown?
The world’s worst and largest nuclear meltdown occurred on April 26, 1986 at the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine, according to the US Library of Congress.Interesting FactChernobyl’s fourth nuclear reactor experienced the meltdown at 1:21 a.m. and expunged 30 to 40 times more radiation than the nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.CausesAccording to the World Nuclear Association, the Chernobyl accident happened due to two main reasons: the reactor was simply poorly built and the employees operating the reactor did not have enough experience and training.EffectsThe true impact of the Chernobyl is extremely difficult to ascertain because of the large area contaminated by radiation and amount of people potentially affected. Thirty-one workers died immediately or within weeks. Thyroid cancer rates increased (how much is again up for debate) from 1986 to 2002 in children from Chernobyl, but 98.8 percent of 1,152 sufferers survived.SignificanceChernobyl
