No, that's just unnecessary fearmongering. And I mean you, not the article - which is measured. There's a modest radiation spike near the fires. Anywhere outside the exclusion zone it'll register at worst as a slight elevation to background radiation.
This ain't the first fire in the zone, and the amount of radioactive isotopes in the vegetation is much less than epic buttload. No need to call comrade Legasov.
The area currently on fire is not the red forest, which is literally adjacent to the sarcophagus. So the current situation is not terribly dire.
I am just more concerned that with an ongoing pandemic, mobilizing the necessary resources to contain the fire may not be possible, leading to it progressing to more heavily contaminated areas-- such as the previously stated red forest.
Which yes, again, is not what is currently on fire.
There was
concerns raised by the Ukrainian govt some years back, about the red forest ever catching on fire due to the level of sequestered isotopes present there. (which is much higher than other areas in the exclusion zone.)
To be quite frank, I am not terribly concerned about what is being released right now. I am more concerned that a fire at this time, during an international disaster, could lead to circumstances that result in failure to contain it, leading to worse outcomes.
I will watch the situation closely, and hope for a good resolution. However, with people sheltering at home, it means normally available resources are not available right now. This is not quite the same kettle of fish as prior small fires at the edges of the exclusion zone prior, simply because of the different logistical climate.
Fearmongering is not the intent though, more .. concern.
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Topic: Things that made you go "WTF?" today o_O (Read 14886069 times)