In April 1986, the Chernobyl disaster culminated with immediate deaths from blast trauma and acute radiation syndrome (ARS), claiming about 30 lives in the initial aftermath. Months later, in a corridor beneath the damaged No. 4 reactor, workers encountered a black, lava-like substance oozing from the reactor's core. This eerie formation resembled a volcanic flow, a dire testament to the nuclear calamity.
This congealed mass, later nicknamed "Elephant's Foot," was primarily composed of nuclear fuel fused with concrete, sand, and core sealing materials. At the time of its discovery, eight months post-disaster, Elephant's Foot was highly radioactive, emitting radiation levels between 80 to 100 grays per hour. Such intense radiation meant that exposure for just five minutes could deliver a fatal dose of 4.5 grays. This discovery highlighted the extreme hazards and ongoing challenges faced by cleanup crews at the site. The name "Elephant’s Foot" was inspired by the mass's resemblance to the foot of the giant mammal, marking it as a uniquely formidable byproduct of nuclear disaster.
