Large fires near Chernobyl nuclear plant

A massive fire broke out in the forest near the Chernobyl nuclear plant, which had been a disaster in 1986, causing Ukraine's National Guard to be on high alert.

Forest fire near Chernobyl nuclear plant

BBC quoted Interior Minister Arsen Avakov as saying about 400 hectares of forest have been burnt in the forbidden area around the factory.

Fire sprinkler helicopter near Chernobyl factory, north of Ukraine.(Photo: Reuters)

200 firefighters, along with dozens of trucks and planes, were deployed to control fires about 15-20 km from this nuclear facility.

Police and National Guard units are placed in high alert. Ukraine's prime minister personally oversees the fire fighting at the scene. He said the situation was under control, but it was the biggest fire since 1992 in the area.

Maya Rudenko, a spokesman for Chernobyl, said fire did not harm this abandoned and heavily polluted factory.

In April 1986, explosions and fires that occurred at the Chernobyl reactor spread into a large amount of radioactive material , spread to parts of western Russia and Europe, causing a nuclear disaster. worst in world history.

Residents around the plant have been evacuated and a 30 km restricted area remains here to this day.

Mr Avakov said the government suspected the fire was intentional and was tightening security around the restricted area.