The Chornobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. A reactor explosion released large amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, affecting surrounding areas and spreading across Europe. The incident was caused by a flawed reactor design and operator errors during a safety test. In the aftermath, emergency responders worked to contain the radiation and evacuate nearby residents. The area around the plant, known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, remains largely uninhabited due to contamination. The disaster highlighted the risks associated with nuclear energy and led to significant changes in safety regulations worldwide.