National Adult Literacy Database

May 5, 1997

This article on the Chernobyl Disaster, was written by a LINC student, Lana Petriw. April 26 is the anniversary of this terrible disaster. Lana came to Canada four years ago from Ukraine. She learned English in Canada with the help of a volunteer tutor and the ESL program offered through the Literacy Program at Parkland Regional College, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Initially, she did attend for a few months the ESL classes offered by the Yorkton Open Door Society. Unfortunately, Yorkton Open Door Society closed and since then her volunteer tutor has been helping her. Lana is married to Bill Petriw and has a son, who is living in Winnipeg.

Chernobyl Disaster, As I Remember

by Lana Petriw

I remember April 25, 1986. I lived in Kiev then. Kiev is the capital city of Ukraine. My parents and my brother with his family lived in Kaharlyk, a small town 80 Km. south of Kiev, population 20,000.

It was spring time. The days were warm and sunny and the trees blossomed beautifully. In my Ukraine there were many fruit orchards. Almost every family in the country had an orchard. Cherry and apple blossoms were everywhere and there was a honey sweet aroma in the air.

The people in the country had just finished planting their gardens and they were happy that the hard work was done. They waited impatiently for weekends and holidays.

My family was excited because my sister-in-law, Olga, was in the hospital to give birth to her baby. The family had gathered to welcome Stephan's son. My brother knew that the baby would be a son. My first nephew was born on April 25, 1986. My family was happy, specially my brother, and I was happy too. I had to return to Kiev, because I worked at the hospital.

On April 26, 1986 at the bus stop I heard about the massive fire in Chernobyl from passengers. I was not concerned. After all, a fire is a fire, it was nothing new!

When I was going back to Kiev in the bus, I saw countless fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, tanks and trucks filled with young soldiers, just like my son, and they were in a hurry, northbound to Chernobyl. It bothered all of us in the bus, we were worried. The thought that something awful had happened hung in the air.

On April 26, 1986 at 1:23 a.m. the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had exploded resulting in huge destruction, massive fire and clouds of radioactive ash. The ash spread throughout the country and even as far as Norway, Sweden, Finland and England.

Ukrainian people knew nothing about it. No official announcements were made about what had happened. The Soviet government of Ukraine offered no warnings and did not ask the people to take any precautions. However, as the common man knew nothing about radiation and its effects, the ruling members of the Communist party quickly evacuated their families to safer places. The government did not let the people know. The people knew something had happened, but didn't know exactly what.

The civic parade on May 1, was held like before. It was a holiday, May day. More than three million citizens of Kiev gathered on main street, Khreschatik , to watch the parade. On that day, the wind changed directions, from north to south, and was blowing from Chernobyl to Kiev. (Chernobyl is about 100 or 120 Km. from Kiev.)

I remember that day very well. The day was warm and sunny, but the wind blew very hard. The wind brought with it very fine ash-like dust from Chernobyl. The radioactive dust fell on the ground, grass, trees, roofs, roads and almost everywhere. The dust was even inside buildings since the windows were open. Innocent people were breathing in radioactive dust. It was a holiday and thousands of people, including children, were playing outdoors. The children were playing with radioactive sand in the parks.

In a few minutes the people could feel the metallic taste in their mouths, their throats were sore and skin was itchy. Almost all complained of severe headaches and diarrhea. Nobody could explain at first what was going on, but soon after they realized that they were exposed to abnormally high level of radiation.

Two weeks after the accident, the government told the people officially about the Chernobyl disaster and what precautionary measures to follow. It was too late, thousands of people were already affected by the radiation in the first two weeks. In the town of Prypyat', thousands of people died, many have long term health problems even today. There was enormous ecological damage.

It was a terrible crime!

The nuclear power plant disaster in Chernobyl was catastrophic and the worst nuclear power plant accident. It made the whole world shudder! United Nations has proclaimed April 26, as the International Day of Remembrance in memory of Chernobyl Disasater.

I'll never forget April 26, 1986. That day changed my life, my mind and my faith.