Timeline: Chernobyl Events

1970

Construction of Chernobyl Power Plant begins

Development of Pripyat, the "atom town" around the plant whose residents will become the first Chernobyl employees
(chnpp.gov.ua.)

1977

Reactor 1 is up and running

Reactor 2 ready to operate within a year afterwards, built less stable than first one.

1982

Partial meltdown of Reactor 1

Up and running again within months. Public didn't know the full extent of the incident until 1985.

1983

Construction of Reactor 4

Day is celebrated by Soviets and the workers at the plant receive a bonus

1986

Assurance to the public in March

"The odds of a meltdown are one in 10,000 years. The plants have safe and reliable controls that are protected from any breakdown with three safety systems.”- Vitali Sklyarov, Minister of Power and Electrification of Ukraine

Apr 25, 1986

Running a risky test

To test emergency conditions, plant is put on low power to run a previously unsuccessful test and without consulting safety professionals. Emergency cooling is turned off and reactors are still running 50% to be left overnight. (Willis, Carl)

Apr 26, 1986

Explosion of Reactor 4

Concerning power fluctuations throughout the day, staff works corrective measures but the reactor is too unstable. (РАССЛЕДОВАНИЕ)

Apr 27, 1986

Emergency measures

Pripyat is evacuated at midnight and during the day helicopters drop sand on the fire and the plant (Kostin, Igor)

May 7, 1986

Clearing basement under reactor

Drained the gathering water and used liquid nitrogen to stabilize floor and cool reactor. Construction on an embankment for the Pripyat river begins

May 23, 1986

Medical treatment

Govt. sends medical help to treat citizens for radioactive iodine after Chernobyl staff die of burns and radiation poisoning. Iodine can only be helped within 10 days of exposure so it was already in the citizens thyroid and couldn't be helped.

Sep 29, 1986