Fukushima and Chernobyl caused millions of deaths
False
Chernobyl, 40 years later: little-known realities
Disinformation that weakened Europe and slowed the energy transition
While the war with Russia and in the Middle East has brutally reminded Europe of the cost of its dependence on fossil fuels and Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged a “strategic mistake” of the EU with regard to nuclear power, the 40th anniversary of Chernobyl, on April 26, 2026, has arrived in an unprecedented context: for the first time in decades, France has chosen to revive its nuclear program.
Yet, according to the ASNR Risk Perceptions Barometer 2025, Chernobyl remains the industrial event considered to be the most frightening by the French people — far ahead of other disasters that were much more deadly. A collective trauma that myths and erroneous representations continue to maintain as they resurface at every anniversary.
Beyond the human drama, the consequences of this misinformation have been significant:
- Long-term slowdown of global nuclear development
- Abandonment of advanced technological programs, including fourth-generation reactors, the basis for circular nuclear energy
- Non-decarbonization of global electrical systems (notwithstanding already low-carbon nuclear and hydraulic exceptions)
- Continued dependence on coal, oil, and gas
The result, forty years later, is still a very strong dependence on gas and oil, a direct exposure and contribution to the disasters and tensions we face today.
The accident and its consequences
WHO has estimated about 8,000 potential deaths due to radiation at Chernobyl. As for Fukushima, UNSCEAR does not expect any detectable increase in cases of cancer or mortality due to radiation exposure given the low doses received.
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Accidents
The Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters have had massive consequences on local biodiversity.
Incomplete
Evidence suggests rewilding within the Fukushima and Chernobyl evacuation zones, with human presence creating greater pressure on animal populations than radioactivity levels. Some species appear to be more affected than others by the effects of radiation.
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Chernobyl (1986) was the worst civilian nuclear accident. 2 workers died immediately, 28 of the 134 workers who received extreme doses died within one year, and another 50 have died since. WHO calculates a few thousand potential deaths among the most at-risk populations.
But the worst industrial disaster of the twentieth century remains the Bhopal chemical accident in India (1984), with 5,000 – 25,000 dead and 200,000 – 800,000 injured.
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While these two accidents originated in nuclear power plants, they differ markedly in their consequences and the sequence of events that caused them.
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The risk of a nuclear accident at Chernobyl is now very low: the reactors have been shut down since 2000 and the spent fuel is safe. Reactor 4 is confined under an arch that was completed in 2017, and the other reactors are being dismantled. On February 14, 2025, a drone damaged the arch without causing radioactive releases. Currently, the site is being stabilized to reduce risks by 2060.
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Implications for nuclear development
Democracy & Society
Political reactions to the Chernobyl accident slowed or stopped many nuclear programs, indirectly contributing to an increase in pollution.
True
Public reactions to the Chernobyl accident halted the development of nuclear energy in several countries for 15-20 years or more, increasing the use of polluting fossil fuels.
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The Chernobyl accident had a considerable negative impact on the adoption of nuclear energy in Europe.
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The Chernobyl disaster has profoundly transformed the global nuclear industry. Since the accident, safety has been integrated at all stages: design, operation, training, crisis management and sharing of feedback. Each area takes lessons learned from the accident to strengthen prevention and safety culture.
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Chernobyl and the literature
Accidents
The consequences of the Chernobyl accident are accurately described in Svetlana Alexievich's book "Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster"
Misleading
The book “Voices from Chernobyl” was published in 1997 by Belarusian journalist and essayist Svetlana Alexievich, who interviewed people affected by the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Although some consequences are correctly presented, the author mixes personal experiences and unfounded speculation, painting a picture that falls far from the scientific truth.
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