A disastrous breach in Ukraine's huge Kakhovka dam has further stoked alarm over the safety of the nearby Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has for months been a target of shelling due to its proximity to military front lines.
The plant has said it can pump water from the reservoir until it falls below 11 metres, and possibly even lower, according to the IAEA.
Petro Kotin, head of Energoatom, said on state television that, with all the reactors in shutdown, the water in the main cooling pond could be sufficient for years. If not, he said, there are additional wells that can bring in water.Pressurised water is used to transfer heat away from the reactors even when they are shut down, and pumped water is also used to cool down removed spent nuclear fuel from the reactors.
The Chornobyl accident spread Iodine-131, Caesium-134, Strontium-90 and Caesium-137 across parts of northern Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, northern and central Europe. But 600,000 "liquidators", involved in fire-fighting and clean-up operations, were exposed to high doses of radiation. Hundreds of thousands were resettled.that the health impact of the Chornobyl disaster was much more serious than initially presented at the time and in the years following the accident.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Following Kakhovka dam collapse in Ukraine US combat vets organization saving residents amid floodingBryan Stern, co-founder of Project Dynamo, shares details of the rescue operations his organization is doing in Kherson, Ukraine, to save residents after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam.
Read more »
U.S. eyes Russia in destruction of Ukraine's Kakhovka dam
Read more »
Draining of Ukraine's Kakhovka reservoir offers a reminder of past and present warsThe draining of one of Europe's largest reservoirs as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has revealed submerged military objects that offer a reminder of wars past and present on Ukrainian soil.
Read more »
Kakhovka Reservoir water levels shown before and after dam was blown upThe destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) has had severe environmental consequences, as shown in a new viral video.
Read more »
Ukraine reclaims village from Russian control, captures 6 soldiersThe conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for 16 months now.
Read more »
Video shows Russian military shooting own retreating troops: Ukraine mediaThe video reportedly depicts 'barrier troops'—Russian military units meant to enforce discipline—shooting fellow Russian soldiers, Ukrainian news outlets said.
Read more »