The Chernobyl Disaster: April 26, 1986

by Paul Dowswell

On April 26, 1986, a huge explosion tore apart the Number 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union. As workers and firefighters struggled heroically to bring the blaze at the plant under control, the Soviet government issued public statements that tragically understated the scale of the disaster. How and why did this terrible accident occur? Why did the Soviet Union want to conceal what had really happened? Who were the people involved, and what happened to them? What was the impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the environment and on global attitudes towards nuclear power? How did it contribute to the breakdown of the Soviet Union itself?

47 pages, Library Binding

First published February 13, 2003

About the author

Paul Dowswell is a British writer of nonfiction and young adult novels who has written over 70 books for British publishers. He was a senior editor at Usborne Publishing, then went freelance in 1999.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read that covered the multiple factors involved in the Chernobyl disaster; suitable for older elementary-age and junior high students.