Kenopsia (n.) - an atmosphere of a place that’s usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet.
Yes, Chernobyl... that Chernobyl. Let's start with the history of this place and after that, I will show you the pictures I made there in March 2018.
The year 2018 marks 32 years since the Chernobyl accident. The accident occurred during a late-night safety test which simulated a station blackout power-failure. It failed and a fire started and for 9 days produced considerable updrafts, that threw radioactive material over Europe. The Prypiat town was not immediately evacuated. And after a few days, the people living there were asked to leave their houses, their jobs and everything and go into a safe zone. BUT, they were told that they will only leave for 3 days, so they left the zone with almost nothing in the luggage. After that... they were not allowed to come back. Only in Prypiat were 49,000 inhabitants. It's a very long story about the years after the accident, but let's talk about the present.
Sooo... I always wanted to visit this place. And in March 2018 I finally got here.
I must tell you that the Chernobyl town is inhabited by the power plant workers. The power plant is still functional, except the reactor number 4.
There are some very strict rules if you want to visit the city of Prypiat, that is complete abandoned. For example, you are not allowed to touch anything, no vegetation, no pets, you are not allowed to drink water or eat food from the zone. Also, you are not allowed to eat when you are in Prypiat. You must wear boots, long pants and long sleeve blouse. And also is better to wear a mask, normal mask, so that you don't inhale the radioactive dust and many more other rules that you must respect. AND most important you are not allowed to enter the buildings, because are in advanced stage of degradation and it may collapse or you can end injured because many things are collapsing in the buildings.
The vegetation is taking back its place and many trees began to grow through the concrete walls.
SO... when you get there you have a feeling that the time stopped 32 years ago. Almost everything is left untouched. So you realise how small and fragile we are. You can die at any moment or you can leave all of your earnings in one place, where you never come back and you must start again only with the clothes that are you wearing.
It's thrilling to be there and see... no words can describe. You are invaded by emotions.
I leave you with the pictures and with the promise that soon i will publish the part 2 of this experience, with more pictures.
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At The Kindergarden
Another Kindergarden That Has A Room Full Of Gas Masks For Kids
A Used Gas Mask Found In One Of The Schools In Prypiat
This Is The Monument Dedicated To The "Liquidators". Liquidators Are More Than 800,000 People Who Have Been Working On Cleaning Up Contaminated Areas
Time To Sleep
Maternity Section
if ur not allowed to go in buildings, how did you get a pic of this?
Masks
The Hospital's Maternity Section
An Unfinished Cooling Tower
Also In The Kindergarden
A Room From The Hospital
One Of The Hospital Salons
Kid's Toys
Do you know who was a liquidators? Soldiers and ex soldiers, who was sent to do cleaning without chance to decline it. They were not informed about danger to their health. They should work here for 3 months. But if they wanted to go home earlier, they should go to the most dangerous zone. As lot of men had families, they wanted to go home and agreed for this deal. After 10 days they could go home. But praise was very high. Lot of them died and lot became invalids for life. And, as nobody knew how dangerous that work is, they didn`t have strong enough protection and even these, who was working further from center got high radiation. After while here was born lot of sick children and lot of men died from illnesses related to radiation. I know it very well, because my daughters father was one of them who was suffering badly. He had horrible migraines which lasted for days and no painkillers could help. He died 3 years after being in Chernobil. And he didn`t work in most dangerous part.
No matter how many pictures of Chernobyl/Pripyat I see, I always get chills.
No matter how many pictures of Chernobyl/Pripyat I see, I always get chills.