The Chernobyl Sarcophagus, built with the labor of 600,000 people, to supposedly last for centuries, was already buckling and disintegrating five years after its construction. It is in danger of complete collapse. Within the next few years it will likely have to be torn down and rebuilt, or a larger sarcophagus will need to be built over it. Large cracks and holes have developed in the structure, and inside the sarcophagus the destoyed reactor building still contains large quantities of the reactor's radioactive materials, which are considered unstable. Robotic remote-control and automated equipment, designed to monitor unstable conditions inside the sarcophagus, cannot tolerate the radiation, and has broken down. Consequently human volunteers now regularly reenter the structure to monitor the reactor core. Each time the enter, they receive very high doses of radiation. Several have already died from cancer, and others suffer the effects of chronic radiation sickness.

Copyright 1996 PERCEPTICON, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Photos and Text Copyright
James Lerager, All Rights Reserved