[2/4] Chernobyl and the engineer who tried to limit the nuclear disaster

2023-01-31T06:09:00.853Z

Listen to the sequel to the story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Five hours after the explosion, as firefighters battle a blaze that cannot be extinguished, radioactive particles escape from the molten reactor and contaminate the atmosphere. No one has yet taken the measure of the drama that is being played out.  After arriving in Pripyat, the government commission is divided into 4 groups: the first works on the causes of the accident, the second leaves to measure radioactivity in Pripyat, the third works on an evacuation plan for civilians, and the fourth, to which belongs the Soviet chemist Valery Legasov, works on the measures to be taken to limit the damage, extinguish the fire and clean the area. In this second episode of the Chernobyl mini-series from the podcast "At the heart of History", historian Virginie Girod recounts the first reactions to the plant accident at different levels: that of the government, but also that of the scientists sent on site to find solutions. Topics discussed: KGB - Glasnost policy - Chernobyl nuclear disaster - Mikhail Gorbachev - history of the USSR - communist party Soviet Union - Cold War superpowers - Eastern bloc.  "At the heart of history" is a Europe 1 Studio podcast. Writing and presentation: Virginie Girod - Production: Adèle Humbert - Artistic direction: Adèle Humbert and Julien Tharaud - Director: Clément Ibrahim  - Original music: Julien Tharaud - Additional music: Julien Tharaud and Sébastien Guidis - Communication: Kelly Decroix - Distribution and writing: Eloise Bertil - Visual: Sidonie Mangin   Bibliography: https://theconversation.com/tchernobyl-35-ans-apres-laccident-nucleaire-decouvrez-comment-la-nature-y-a-repris-ses-droits-118082 Markiyan Kamysh, La Zone, Arthaud , 2016 SOURCESTranscription of the Legasov tapes in English :https://legasovtapetranslation.blogspot.com/2019/10/tape-3-side-b.html Igor Kostine, Tchernobyl, Les Arènes, 2020 DOCUMENTARIESThe Battle of Chernobyl, Thomas Johnson, 2006The Sacrifice, Wladimir Tcherkoff, 2004.    Archives: The disaster seen from the USA (Washington), Jean-Pierre Joulin, April 30, 1986