第5期:抢救切尔诺贝利(5)

We hoped they would be able to evaluate the situation quickly, but for the first couple days, they weren't able to tell us anything. It was a dramatic situation. We'd be in session, waiting for information.

We were demanding information, but they weren't able to tell us anything. Twenty hours after the explosion, the level of radioactivity continues to climb.

By now windows and doors should be sealed and iodines tablets swallowed to counteract the effects of radioactivity. Yet no such orders have been given. Despite rising tensions in the city, the population has still not been informed of the situation.

Yulia Martchenko was only five at the time. She lived in Pripyat with her family. Her father worked at the plant. My parents took me to the day care center like usual. Everything was absolutely normal.

My father already knew there'd been an accident, but no precautions had been taken yet. 30 hours after the explosion, the first security measures are enforced.

More than 1000 buses have arrived At 2pm the army announced in the city is completely evacuated. I remember the teachers at the kindergarten gave us iodine pills. Then parents came to pick up their kids. Everyone was running around but they weren't panicking.

We thought we were only gone for three days. To avoid any panic the authorities concealed the seriousness of the situation. Inhabitants are given two hours to gather their belongings and assemble in front of their buildings.

They told us to get in the buses. I remember perfectly well having to choose which toys I was want to take. I had a lot of dolls and wanted to bring them all, but I couldn't. We couldn't even take any warm clothes.

People have to leave everything they own, their entire lives, behind. They will never return. One old man didn't want to go. He stayed behind. They found his body a few weeks later.