The photo captured two tourists in the middle of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, treating a piece of equipment as though it were nothing more than a sightseeing attraction. But this object was anything but ordinary. It was a relic left behind from one of the deadliest nuclear disasters in history.
Years after the catastrophic 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, it was possible to visit parts of the exclusion zone with a licensed guide. That window for tourism ended once the war between Russia and Ukraine made it too dangerous, meaning today the area is off-limits to regular visitors.
There are still eerie remnants scattered around the zone, reminders of the destruction that unfolded. These relics alone would be enough to discourage most people from setting foot anywhere near the site.
Among the most infamous of these is the Elephant’s Foot, a lethal mass of corium and other materials that formed under the reactor. It is considered the single most dangerous radioactive object on Earth. Fortunately, it is now sealed within the ‘New Safe Confinement’ structure built around the reactor, keeping it out of reach from the public.
Despite the risks, two tourists once climbed directly onto the claw, making physical contact with material that experts warn still carries radioactive particles. Needless to say, this is extremely dangerous and not something anyone should even think about attempting.
Radiation specialists later explained that the women probably did not stay long enough to suffer serious long-term health effects. According to Radiation Answers, being near the claw for only a few minutes would result in exposure of just a few microsieverts, which is a relatively small dose.
“Big deal? Nope. Would I needlessly get up close and personal with this junk? Also nope.” another user wrote, while someone else warned: “The reason this thing is radioactive is that it’s coated with radioactive dust and dirt. Things that might cling to the skin and clothes of whoever touches them and continue emitting radiation for a long time, and possibly ingested.”
A third commenter put it bluntly by saying: “It’s the most radioactive thing in the exclusion zone accessible to visitors.”
At that level, radiation quickly overwhelms the body. Victims would first feel exhaustion and dizziness, followed by bleeding at the cellular level. Soon after, violent vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever would set in before death.
Although nearly four decades have passed since the explosion, both the claw and the Elephant’s Foot stand as grim reminders of the catastrophe. At least 31 people died directly from acute radiation sickness and other injuries in the immediate aftermath, and countless more have since suffered and died from long-term effects of radiation exposure.
