Two People Died In The Initial Explosion
Two of the engineers who were running the procedure died instantly when the reactor exploded. However, this loss of life would be small compared to the enormous damage that would spread across an area that would come to be known as the exclusion zone.
Nuclear waste and runoff would leak into the surrounding environment, poisoning the ground and thereby the entire food chain for the people and wildlife. The radiation in the air would poison people and cause children to be born with severe congenital disabilities. However, for the first few days following the explosion, the government did not even advise people to stay indoors.