Belhydromet reported on radiation in Belarus after the incident at the Chernobyl NPP
After the incident at the Chernobyl NPP on January 20, the radiation situation on the territory of Belarus remains stable. This was reported by Belhydromet.
The agency noted that radiation background measurements in the southern territories of the country are carried out every three hours. No exceedances of multi-year normative values have been recorded.
In Bragin, which is the Belarusian settlement closest to Ukrainian Pripyat, the gamma radiation level was 0.34 microsieverts per hour. In Vasilevichi, this indicator is 0.11 µSv/h, in Zhitkovichi and Mozyr — 0.10 µSv/h.
Belhydromet reminded that 41 dosimetric posts operate in Belarus, where the gamma radiation dose rate is monitored daily. In the southern regions, data is updated with a three-hour interval. In addition, an automated radiation monitoring system (ASKRA), which includes 33 autonomous points, operates in the zones of influence of nuclear power plants. Information from them is transmitted to Belhydromet around the clock every 10 minutes.
The incident at the Chernobyl NPP occurred on the afternoon of January 20, when the station was left without external electricity for several hours. This was reported by IAEA head Rafael Grossi, noting that such a situation is unusual and could pose a potential threat.
After a few hours, the NPP's power supply was restored thanks to the United Energy System of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy assured that the radiation background at the station and in the exclusion zone is within normal limits.
It is also reminded in this message that after the accident on April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl NPP does not operate as a power plant and is mainly used for storing nuclear waste.