This is a diagram of a RBMK reactor, the same design as Chernobyl’s Reactor 4. As a result of the power surge, the radio active fuel and core materials were released into the air. This led to a fire because the graphite moderator was highly combustable. Pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu

This picture was taken 3 days after the largest nuclear disaster in history. The destroyed reactor is shown in front of the chimney. bostonglobe.com

On June 13, 1986 a helicopter flies over the abandoned plant spraying a decontaminant in an effort to clean the area. Bostonglobe.com

An abandoned ferris wheel remains neglected in the ghost town of Pripyat, which is less than 2 miles away Chernobyl. The newly built amusement park was supposed to be debuted during the May Day celebration, two weeks after the Chernobyl disaster. Wilmothighschool.com

Even after 25 years, Pripyat (which used to be the home of 50,000 people) remains uninhabitable. Bostonglobe.com

The Vehicle Graveyard near Chernobyl contains many vehicles that were used in the clean-up. Chernobyl-disaster.com

Michael and Vladimir, 16 years old, are twin brothers from Belarus. Michael, who has hydrocephalus, is five minutes older than Vladimir, who is deaf. Pixelpress.org (photo essay)

Some areas in the closed zones near Chernobyl still have dangerously high levels of radiation. They will remain closed for up to900 years. pixelpress.org

Three out of four children in Belarus are born unhealthy in heavily affected areas. Because some families are unable to care for their mentally handicapped children, they are put in to state institutions. Pixelpress.org

A woman is screen for thyroid cancer in the Ukraine. Bostonglobe.com

After the explosion, a ‘sarcophagus’ around reactor 4 was quickly constructed. A Geiger shows the readings of the radiation levels in the air. Bostonglobe.com