Chernobyl roof collapse did not affect radiation levels, Ukrainian officials say

A section of the roof at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant collapsed after a heavy snowfall, the Associated Press reported.

Ukrainian officials said there was no safety concern to the public.

Chernobyl plant spokeswoman Maya Rudenko told The Associated Press that a  "6,500-square-foot section of the roof over the turbine hall at the fourth power block collapsed Tuesday."

In 1986, an accident at Chernobyl resulted in radioactive fallout that spread across Europe and the area around the plant is still generally off limits, AP wrote.

More from GlobalPost: Chernobyl survivors say Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster bears little resemblance to their plight

Rudenko said the roof collapsed over 100 feet away from a shelter built shortly after the 1986 incident to contain radiation.

According to the World Nuclear Organization, two workers died on the night of that deadly accident, and another 28 people died from radiation poisoning within the weeks following the diasaster. 
 

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