The Russian Emergencies Minister is warning of possible radiation risks, as wildfires approach closer to the area affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, according to Russia Today. The main fear is that the fires, which are moving further south of Moscow toward the Bryansk region, could disturb and spread the radioactivity in forests, vegetation and soil contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Contaminated smoke can loft radioactivity into the air and with the wind contaminate more areas. Multiple crews have been dispatched to try to prevent the fires spreading there.
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Officials from Russia’s federal forest protection service confirmed that fires were burning at contaminated sites on Tuesday, and expressed fears that lax oversight as a result of recent changes in the forestry service could increase the chances that radioactive smoke would waft into populated areas. The New York Times.