CHERNOBYL'S ROOF COLLAPSE: IS CHERNOBYL TRULY STABLE?

CHERNOBYL'S ROOF COLLAPSE: IS CHERNOBYL TRULY STABLE?

courtesy: Wikipedia

A partial roof collapse of the beleaguered Chernobyl plant has fallen in the past few days, sending workers scrambling for cover.

The roof collapse is deemed a normal consequence of the neglect of the structure after its fateful incident of 27 years ago, and authorities have been quick to dismiss any reports that point to any possible instability still afflicting the nuclear reactor.

The meltdown in fact has produced a core that is still smoldering and probably will for a long while, partially covered underneath the dome that is under construction to limit its radioactive 'infection' of the land around it.

But is Chernobyl truly settled? or is this latest incident a sign that the melted nuclear reaction is unstable and could produce further plumes or events?  In fact the area that has collapsed is outside the 'sarcophagus' construction area, where it could easily release radiation if the core is still active. 

The authorities have also pained themselves with assuring that no changes in the radiation levels have been detected, so that there is no apparent reason for alarm.

For those who have lived through the terrifying experience of the Chernobyl explosion and the conflicting reports issued after the event, such reassurance is not always enough to quell fear.

According to a famous theoretical physicist, prof. Michio Kaku, the core of Chernobyl is still melting and could pose significant problems if it hits water in the ground and causes a steam explosion, which could send further radiation into the air.  The only way that could be prevented is to immure the melted core from below the ground in cement to prevent it from reaching groundwater.

Source: BBC news 214.13/ Michio Kaku: Physics of the future 9.12 broadcast