BELARUS: Prayers in Minsk for the Belarussian victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident

Record ID: 275766

  • Title: BELARUS: Prayers in Minsk for the Belarussian victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident
  • Date: 26th April 2006
  • Summary: WOMAN HOLDING A CANDLE CRYING
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belarus
  • City:
  • Country: Belarus
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA6I6U2ALK4YG9I9Z74TWK1YG2E
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Prayers were said at church services held across Belarus on Wednesday (April 26) for the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
    Mourners lit candles at the St.Mary's Church in the Belarussian capital Minsk.
    "This is a very said day. It means a lot for me. As you know very many people suffered; my relatives and friends among them. How to say it - it (the Chernobyl nuclear accident) had an effect on every person, every family, every child and adult in Belarussia," said Galina, 64, a Minsk resident.
    Belarus was one of the countries most heavily affected by the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl accident, with the country's eastern regions downwind of the plant in Ukraine, when its number 4 reactor exploded on April 26, 1986.
    The World Health Organisation puts at 9,000 the number of people expected to die of radiation exposure from Chernobyl, while environmental group Greenpeace predicts an eventual death toll of 93,000.
    Belarus's prosecutors summoned the country's main opposition leader on Wednesday hours before a rally denouncing President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus's opposition traditionally holds its biggest rally of the year on the Chernobyl anniversary.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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