Ukrainian firefighters are battling the elements, working tirelessly in bitterly cold conditions to fully extinguish lingering fires sparked by a drone strike on the Chornobyl site. This attack targeted the iconic structure housing the remains of the reactor that was destroyed in the catastrophic 1986 disaster. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provided this update today.
A dedicated IAEA team has been granted unrestricted access to the scene of the explosion, allowing them to conduct a thorough assessment of the damage inflicted on the New Safe Confinement (NSC). This impressive arch-shaped structure was designed to safeguard against any radioactive leaks and shield the reactor from external threats. However, the drone strike left a gaping hole in its roof early yesterday morning.
As the IAEA experts surveyed the scene, they could see smoke billowing from the damaged roof and caught the unmistakable scent of burning plastic, a stark reminder of the dangers that continue to loom over this historic site.
