Мore than 600,000 people worked on the cleanup of the Chernobyl accident. Those who arrived on the scene in the first few months after the accident got to do the most difficult and dangerous jobs. What was it like 28 years ago?
In mid-August 1986 the reactor was “pacified” (fading and cool), the threat of a “nuclear explosion” was excluded, and the threat of thermal explosions was minimal.
Сoncrete pumping machines (a very rare unit in the USSR) and a concrete truck are clearly visible in the photo.
The white house had lead walls and roof. This reduces the level of radiation. They were paid five times their normal salary and were to get a “Lada” without having to queue for it. But it is unknown which of them managed to get a Lada…
Here is the paradox of the Soviet times – a Lada is worth the same as a life.
Liquidators in black overalls and white caps go down the ladders during the building of the sarcophagus. It is very likely that they are no longer alive.
Bags of lead shot (on top of the boom of the concrete pumper) were widely used in early May. Lead shot was collected nationwide, especially from hunting societies, and dumped from helicopters directly into the collapsed power station. The goal was to contain the radioactive emissions.
There are two viewpoints on the construction of the sarcophagus.
The first is that the collapse left about 194 tons of fuel there, so the sarcophagus was needed.