How many people died in the Chernobyl explosion?

Two plant workers died on the night of the Chernobyl accident and 28 people died of radiation poisoning within the next few weeks, including six firefighters. The actual death toll resulting from radiation from the disaster is highly debated, with no exact figure.

The Chernobyl explosion released radioactive material into the air for around 10 days. The radioactive material contaminated the surrounding areas. In 2005, the U.N. Indicated the death toll could be as low as 56. In 2006 however, Greenpeace suggested the death toll may exceed 200,000. Both articles acknowledged that the high spike in cancer rates in the area was caused by exposure from the explosion.