A photo from open sources
In early October 1957, American scientists from the center nuclear research in Los Alamos received information that in the USSR �made another atomic bomb test. No one guess couldn’t that the surge of radioactivity in the Middle Urals was not a consequence of a planned experiment, and the result of an accident. it was the first nuclear disaster in the USSR. But not the last. Located in the closed Chelyabinsk-40 (modern Ozersk) NGO Mayak officially called the “chemical plant”. However a real profile The NGO was the manufacture of atomic weapons. “Lighthouse” regularly issued “products”, and production waste was sent to specially created repository. In the concrete “coffin” were 20 tanks, called “banks”, each holding up to 300 cubic meters. m highly radioactive waste representing potential danger. The facility was called the “S-3 complex.” September 20 on duty The special storage technician noticed that the object was smoking. The specialists who went down to the store came back alarmed: the corridors of the complex are filled with smoke, the temperature in it is higher established. Later it turns out that the cooling system failed. Urgent measures were taken to reduce the temperature in the storage, but It was too late. At 16:22, bank No. 14 exploded containing 256 cbm radioactive waste. Explosion power was equivalent to 50 t. TNT. A 160 ton concrete can lid flew up and was thrown back 25 meters. Within a radius of 200 meters in buildings glass flew out, the walls partially collapsed. But that wasn’t the most scary. Total radioactive waste thrown into the air whose activity was 20 million curies. (In Chernobyl threw 50 million) A cloud of hazardous dust rose into the air and at a speed 30km / h crawled to the north-east along the river. Techa, lying on his own ground paths, roofs of houses with white flakes. On his way were fire station, prison camp, military camp. In the evening people were evacuated from these facilities. Moscow reported that “no one not hurt. “The atom began killing its victims much later. Cloud covered an area of 23,000 sq. km. More-less 217 settlements of three felt the consequences of the accident areas with a population of 270,000 people. In the very center of the infected “spots” – a strip with a length of 105 and a width of 8-10 km were 23 settlements. 
Photos from open sources
October 6, the evacuation of residents from those in the center “spots” of villages. The military truck arrived in the village and loaded people. Nothing was allowed to take with you. Cattle shot himself. Involuntary immigrants are immediately in place on their hands gave out money for property left. Within a few days 1,100 people were resettled. Almost a year was evicted 10,000. The zone was declared banned for living and economic activities, she received the status of the East Ural state reserve, the entrance to which was only by special passes. It is clear that no information about what happened in the media did not have. Only the Izvestia newspaper published a brief note that the inhabitants of the Middle Urals observed a strange glow of the sky, resembling aurora. It shone a radioactive cloud. Today, the territory of the “reserve” is still closed, because the level radiation on its territory remains dangerous to humans. Scientists with 1957 work in the area, studying the effects of radioactive impacts on fauna and flora. And although the level pollution is steadily declining, experts say that it will take at least 100 years for the territory to become safe for person.
USSR �
