The Chernobyl exclusion zone has witnessed the emergence of a large fire tornado, forcing emergency responders to retreat for safety. The Ukrainian Emergency Service released a video on July 3, showing the fire tornado rapidly forming and moving towards firefighting vehicles.

According to the Emergency Service, wildfires near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant have been ongoing since last week, and authorities have yet to fully control the situation. The video shared on their Telegram channel illustrates the destructive power of the fire tornado, described as a mix of wind, dust, and flames.

The Chernobyl exclusion zone, established after the catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986, spans approximately 30 kilometers around the nuclear power plant and covers an area of about 2,600 square kilometers, predominantly forested. Access to this region remains restricted due to high radiation levels.

Satellite data has indicated significant smoke columns carrying polluted air, with elevated carbon monoxide levels detected up to 170 kilometers from the fire's center. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is located roughly 94 kilometers north of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, near the border with Belarus.