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26th April

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1986: Nuclear disaster at Chernobyl


The worst nuclear power plant accident to date occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in the USSR. The explosion of the Soviet reactor spurred a radioactive scare in Scandinavia even before it was publicly confirmed by the Soviets. Radiation levels jumped to 50 times normal in Sweden and at Chernobyl 32 people died and dozens more suffered radiation burns in the opening days of the crisis. Only after Swedish authorities reported the fallout did Soviet authorities reluctantly admit that an accident had occurred. An estimated 5,000 Soviet citizens eventually died from cancer and other radiation-induced illnesses caused by their exposure to the Chernobyl radiation and millions more had their health adversely affected. In 2000, the last working reactors at Chernobyl were shut down and the plant was officially closed.

1994

The beginning of the first all-race national elections in South Africa.

1994

A Taiwanese airliner crashes in Japan killing all 264 people on board.

1986

An accident at the Soviet nuclear power station at Chernobyl leads to a massive radiation leak in the area.

1986

British actor Michael Crawford's last performance in the London musical Barnum.

1966

European Premiere of the film Dr Zhivago starring Omar Sharif in London.

1964

African nations Tanganyika and Zanzibar merge to form the new country of Tanzania.

1962

In a joint USA-British venture, the first international satellite is launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

1957

In Britain, on BBC TV, the first transmission of The Sky At Night presented by astronomer Patrick Moore.

1928

Madame Tussaud's Waxworks Museum in London opens to the public.

1923

The marriage of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (now the Queen Mother) to the Duke of York (who later becomes King George VI of England) at Westminster Abbey in London. The first royal wedding at the abbey since 1383.

1895

Start of the Old Bailey trial of playwright Oscar Wilde who's charged with homosexuality.

1886

In England, John Tiller creates the Tiller Girls Dancing Troupe.

1607

Captain John Smith lands at Cape Henry, in Virginia with the first group of colonists who establish a permanent English settlement in America.

1914

British comedian Charlie Chester.

1894

Germany's deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess.

1893

American writer Anita Loos - author of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

1660

English writer Daniel Defoe.

1984

American jazz musician Count Basie.

1980

Actress Dame Cecily Courtneidge.

1976

South African-born British comedy actor Sidney James.

1970

Female stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, aged 56