Report 4 from our epic trip to Chernobyl
The hospital was one of my favourite buildings of the trip. The five storey building was crammed with furniture & hospital equipment, and every floor was filled with surgeries, operating theatres and wards. I started at the top, and worked my way down, and spent a bit of time looking round the maternity unit. Due to Pripyat’s young population, a lot of babies were born here. The room of empty rusting cribs was a sad scene. Radiation is not a problem in the buildings generally; our guide warned us the basement stored clothing from the fireman who put out the explosion in the power plant in 1986, and was highly radioactive. Indeed, a small offcut of a fireman’s jacket on the reception desk made the giger counter very unhappy.
The next morning, we climbed Pripyat’s tallest apartment block, with stunning views of the forest and remains of the town. Including the plant room, I reckon around 18 stories – a mission to climb without lifts, but worth it for the views. The apartments were small nearly identical flats with varying remains of furniture, and balcony views. Here was a glimpse of family life, just as they fled the disaster.
Finally the riverside café, one of a number of smaller sites like the cinema we visited.
The history is well documented on the net. In summary:
Pripyat was a purpose built city for Chernobyl nuclear power plant (pop nearly 50,000). Founded in 1970, the whole city was evacuated after The Chernobyl disaster happened in April 1986, in Ukraine, former USSR.
The city had been large enough for 20 schools for various ages, a hospital, numerous sports facilities, a fairground, fire & police station, shops and many housing blocks.
An explosion & fire released large quanties of radioactive particles into the atmosphere over current day Ukraine & Belarus. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. It is one of only two level 7 events (the other being Fukushima in 2011.) To contain the contamination cost a lot money and lives. Today Pripyat remains uninhabited.
The hospital was one of my favourite buildings of the trip. The five storey building was crammed with furniture & hospital equipment, and every floor was filled with surgeries, operating theatres and wards. I started at the top, and worked my way down, and spent a bit of time looking round the maternity unit. Due to Pripyat’s young population, a lot of babies were born here. The room of empty rusting cribs was a sad scene. Radiation is not a problem in the buildings generally; our guide warned us the basement stored clothing from the fireman who put out the explosion in the power plant in 1986, and was highly radioactive. Indeed, a small offcut of a fireman’s jacket on the reception desk made the giger counter very unhappy.
The next morning, we climbed Pripyat’s tallest apartment block, with stunning views of the forest and remains of the town. Including the plant room, I reckon around 18 stories – a mission to climb without lifts, but worth it for the views. The apartments were small nearly identical flats with varying remains of furniture, and balcony views. Here was a glimpse of family life, just as they fled the disaster.
Finally the riverside café, one of a number of smaller sites like the cinema we visited.
The history is well documented on the net. In summary:
Pripyat was a purpose built city for Chernobyl nuclear power plant (pop nearly 50,000). Founded in 1970, the whole city was evacuated after The Chernobyl disaster happened in April 1986, in Ukraine, former USSR.
The city had been large enough for 20 schools for various ages, a hospital, numerous sports facilities, a fairground, fire & police station, shops and many housing blocks.
An explosion & fire released large quanties of radioactive particles into the atmosphere over current day Ukraine & Belarus. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. It is one of only two level 7 events (the other being Fukushima in 2011.) To contain the contamination cost a lot money and lives. Today Pripyat remains uninhabited.
THE HOSPITAL
The waiting room
operating theatres
Maternity wards
Function Room; with decaying piano
THE 18 STOREY APARTMENT BLOCK
a glimpse inside the lives of the residents moments before the evacuation
possibly children's bedroom
RIVERSIDE CAFE
The waiting room
operating theatres
Maternity wards
Function Room; with decaying piano
THE 18 STOREY APARTMENT BLOCK
a glimpse inside the lives of the residents moments before the evacuation
possibly children's bedroom
RIVERSIDE CAFE
