New areas of 'smoldering' reported near Chernobyl nuclear plant
By
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Apr 14, 2020 2:24 PM EDT
Rain helped extinguish open flames that had been spreading in Chernobyl’s exclusion zone, according to Ukraine’s emergency service.
A massive fire that broke out in northern Ukraine at the beginning of April is no longer said to be threatening the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the region. However, officials are monitoring hot spots as winds whip through the region.
The fire began to burn in the region back on April 3, near the town of Pripyat, located over two hours north of the country's capital of Kiev and near the border with Belarus.
Police say they arrested a 27-year-old man who is being accused of starting the fire last week. On Monday, police said that another local resident burned waste and accidentally set dry grass ablaze.
The location of the fire was reportedly only one kilometer (less than one mile) away from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the world's largest nuclear catastrophe back in April 1986.
In this photo taken from the roof of Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant late Friday April 10, 2020, a forest fire is seen burning near the plant inside the exclusion zone. (Ukrainian Police Press Office via AP)
However, Greenpeace Russia, on Monday, warned that the fire being in close proximity of the power plant posed a radiation risk.
"Higher-than-usual" radiation levels were first reported by the AP on April 5, and are being carefully monitored as the fire continues.
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According to Reuters, Chernobyl tour operator, Yaroslav Yemelianenko, shared on Facebook that the fire was only two kilometers away from where “the most highly active radiation waste of the whole Chernobyl zone is located.” He called on officials to warn people of the danger.
Forests remain ablaze just kilometers away from the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine as high winds fuel the fire on April 13.
Emergency services said on Tuesday morning that there were still some acreage "smoldering" in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, but that the zone contained no open fire.
Acting Chairman of the State Environmental Inspectorate, Yegor Firsov, later said that the fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone was extinguished, and cited some rain that moved through the region as one helpful factor.
Hundreds of firefighters, as well as several planes and helicopters, battled the blaze for 10 days.
The above satellite image shows fires burning and scorched ground south of Prypait, Ukraine and dangerously close to the Chernobyl nuclear plant to the southeast. (Photo/Sentinel-hub)
A front sweeping through Ukraine with some rain and gusty winds on Tuesday steered smoke from the fires to Kiev.
"It remained quite gusty into Thursday, with frequent wind gusts of 32-48 km/h (20-30 mph) in northern Ukraine," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.
Wind gusts out of the west reached as high as 77 km/h (48 mph) in Kiev Thursday afternoon and brought a dust storm through the city. Officials assured residents that the dust carried no chemical or radiation threat.
Strong winds increased the difficulty in containing what's left of the blaze and new areas of "smoldering" were reported in the Exclusion Zone, but did not pose a threat to any critical facilities, reported officials.
Friday morning, winds out of the northwest carried smoke from Chernobyl into Kiev. According to officials, radiation levels remained near normal in the capitol city, but residents were urged to take precautions and to remain indoors.
Overall, no appreciable rainfall is expected through the weekend. A spotty shower or two may move through the Chernobyl area, but it will do little to aid firefighters.
Burned trees are seen in the settlement of Poliske after a forest fire in the 30 km (19 miles) exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine April 12, 2020. Picture taken April 12, 2020. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Dry weather across much of eastern Europe has allowed for a more volatile environment for fire to thrive.
Through April 13, only two percent of the month's normal rainfall has fallen in Kiev. Since the beginning of 2020, the city has been much drier than normal, only recording 81 mm of rain instead of the average 150 mm.
The dry weather has also caused crop losses already this year across Ukraine, with further damage possible should the dry stretch continue.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
New areas of 'smoldering' reported near Chernobyl nuclear plant
By Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Apr 14, 2020 2:24 PM EDT
Rain helped extinguish open flames that had been spreading in Chernobyl’s exclusion zone, according to Ukraine’s emergency service.
A massive fire that broke out in northern Ukraine at the beginning of April is no longer said to be threatening the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the region. However, officials are monitoring hot spots as winds whip through the region.
The fire began to burn in the region back on April 3, near the town of Pripyat, located over two hours north of the country's capital of Kiev and near the border with Belarus.
Police say they arrested a 27-year-old man who is being accused of starting the fire last week. On Monday, police said that another local resident burned waste and accidentally set dry grass ablaze.
The location of the fire was reportedly only one kilometer (less than one mile) away from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the world's largest nuclear catastrophe back in April 1986.
In this photo taken from the roof of Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant late Friday April 10, 2020, a forest fire is seen burning near the plant inside the exclusion zone. (Ukrainian Police Press Office via AP)
However, Greenpeace Russia, on Monday, warned that the fire being in close proximity of the power plant posed a radiation risk.
"Higher-than-usual" radiation levels were first reported by the AP on April 5, and are being carefully monitored as the fire continues.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
According to Reuters, Chernobyl tour operator, Yaroslav Yemelianenko, shared on Facebook that the fire was only two kilometers away from where “the most highly active radiation waste of the whole Chernobyl zone is located.” He called on officials to warn people of the danger.
Forests remain ablaze just kilometers away from the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine as high winds fuel the fire on April 13.
Emergency services said on Tuesday morning that there were still some acreage "smoldering" in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, but that the zone contained no open fire.
Acting Chairman of the State Environmental Inspectorate, Yegor Firsov, later said that the fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone was extinguished, and cited some rain that moved through the region as one helpful factor.
Hundreds of firefighters, as well as several planes and helicopters, battled the blaze for 10 days.
The above satellite image shows fires burning and scorched ground south of Prypait, Ukraine and dangerously close to the Chernobyl nuclear plant to the southeast. (Photo/Sentinel-hub)
Related:
A front sweeping through Ukraine with some rain and gusty winds on Tuesday steered smoke from the fires to Kiev.
"It remained quite gusty into Thursday, with frequent wind gusts of 32-48 km/h (20-30 mph) in northern Ukraine," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.
Wind gusts out of the west reached as high as 77 km/h (48 mph) in Kiev Thursday afternoon and brought a dust storm through the city. Officials assured residents that the dust carried no chemical or radiation threat.
Strong winds increased the difficulty in containing what's left of the blaze and new areas of "smoldering" were reported in the Exclusion Zone, but did not pose a threat to any critical facilities, reported officials.
Friday morning, winds out of the northwest carried smoke from Chernobyl into Kiev. According to officials, radiation levels remained near normal in the capitol city, but residents were urged to take precautions and to remain indoors.
Overall, no appreciable rainfall is expected through the weekend. A spotty shower or two may move through the Chernobyl area, but it will do little to aid firefighters.
Burned trees are seen in the settlement of Poliske after a forest fire in the 30 km (19 miles) exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine April 12, 2020. Picture taken April 12, 2020. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Dry weather across much of eastern Europe has allowed for a more volatile environment for fire to thrive.
Through April 13, only two percent of the month's normal rainfall has fallen in Kiev. Since the beginning of 2020, the city has been much drier than normal, only recording 81 mm of rain instead of the average 150 mm.
The dry weather has also caused crop losses already this year across Ukraine, with further damage possible should the dry stretch continue.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo