Today in History: April 26, the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster
Briefly

April 26 marks several historical events, most notably the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, which released deadly radioactive material into the atmosphere causing numerous immediate deaths and likely thousands of long-term radiation-related health issues. Other significant events include the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in 1607 at Cape Henry, the assassination of President Lincoln's murderer John Wilkes Booth in 1865, and the formation of Tanzania from Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Recent history features significant milestones like the first civil union law in the U.S. for same-sex couples in 2000 and the conviction of Charles Taylor for war crimes in 2012.
On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused the worst nuclear disaster in history, leading to immediate deaths and long-term radiation-induced fatalities.
In 1865, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, resulting in his death.
Tanzania was formed in 1964 following the merger of the African nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, symbolizing a significant moment in African unity.
In 2012, former Liberian President Charles Taylor was convicted of war crimes, marking a historic moment as he became the first head of state to be prosecuted.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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