The writer of hit television program Chernobyl has urged Instagram users to stop taking lewd and inappropriate selfies at the location of the disaster.
In the wake of the popularity of the show, tourists have flocked to the
nuclear disaster site —
with some taking the chance to
strike “disrespectful” poses in photographs, and even strip to their underwear.
One picture shows a woman letting a hazard suit fall to her waist, exposing her bra as she flicks her hair in the wind. Another shows a woman dressed as a
nuclear scientist posing in the middle of the control room of the destroyed unit 4of the city power plant.
Many others have taken selfies whereas holding Geiger counters, and one picture shows a young woman posing in an abandoned bus.
In the weeks following the explosion in
1986, 29 firefighters
and power plant employees died of acute radiation syndrome, and 2 of injuries.
Meanwhile in Chernobyl: Instagram influencers
flocking to the location of
the disaster.
The program highlights that cancer rates spiked
dramatically across Ukraine and Belarus in the aftermath, and that the estimate of total deaths caused by the disaster
ranges from 4,000-93,000.
Reports suggest that tourism to the area has surged by up
to 40 per cent
since the release of
the five-part HBO series.
However, the show’s screenwriter Craig Mazin has said some aren’t treating the location with the respect it
deserves.
He tweeted: “It’s wonderful that #ChernobylHBO
has inspired a wave
of tourism to the Zone
of Exclusion.
“But yes, I’ve seen the photos going around.
“If you visit, please remember that a terrible tragedy
occurred there. Comport yourselves with respect for all who suffered and sacrificed.”
The exclusion zone has been open for tourists
since the late 1990s, however has become more and more popular as a holiday destination.
The abandoned buildings and vehicles as well as the fairground are popular with urban explorers,
and wildlife enthusiasts go to see the wide array of animals that
have made the
abandoned area their
home.
Those who visit are often given radiation counters and protective clothing, and are screened for
radiation exposure on entry and exit.