Chernobyl - next chapter

Events in Japan have stirred up interest in Chernobyl - looking down the timeline of the aftermath an explosion at a nuclear reactor. The hastily constructed Sarcophagus (or 'Object Shelter') that was built to entomb the reactor core at Chernobyl is now beginning to break up and contracts have been signed to construct a larger 'containment structure' - a giant hangar which will contain radiation while work is carried out to secure the core for a longer time period.

Fascinating animated video about the construction if the new 'containment arch' (click picture to open video) - warning: there is a hilariously inappropriate advert for Dubai at the start of the video

These are some fairly recent shots of the town of Chernobyl - where wildlife is apparently thriving although the conditions remain too hazardous to allow humans to return

the timescales and effects of radiation from these events is discussed in a previous Commonty post - here