Radiation safety

Giant radiation shield built to cap Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

A giant radiation shield is being manoevered over the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the final phase of a €1.5 billion (US$1.6bn) project to prevent the leaking of further radioactive material from the damaged reactor.

Construction work on the ‘New Safe Confinement’ shield began in 2012 in response to fears that the current concrete sarcophagus would eventually deteriorate and collapse, possibly leading to the release of further toxic materials.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the disaster.

At least 49 people died in the immediate aftermath of an explosion at the No.4 reactor at the Chernobyl plant, which sent a plume of radioactive material into the air. Thousands more are believed to have suffered health problems, including cancer, due to the effects of radiation from the blast.