Three decades ago, the inhabitants of Pripiat, a city in northern Ukraine in the Kiev region , were evacuated 36 hours after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered nuclear catastrophe more serious history, on April 26, 1986.
Radioactive contamination was imminent and residents of areas surrounding the plant, under the orders of the Red Army of the Russian Soviet Union, left their homes with very little clothes in their suitcases, some money, documents...the essentials to stay a few days away from home, many of them without knowing that they would never return; except for the samosely: the people who refused to leave Chernobyl.
The samosely: the people who never left Chernobyl
About 116,000 people were confined to refugee camps , where the reality was devastating.They live austerely, with limited food and resources, this, while they managed to reestablish themselves in another place.Sadness invaded them as they watched as the Pripiat thrives, of fertile soils that fed them with Good harvests throughout the year, it became a ghost town to which they could not return, because there, as they were alerted, they would find death.
The samosely, or “ auto colonists ”as it is translated into Spanish, they are almost entirely older people, about 60 to 80 years old, who sneaked back to escape poverty.It is estimated that there are still 158 of them living in areas near the nuclear power plant.In the last 25 years, 900 deaths have been registered among this group , however, to the surprise of the scientists, the samosely have exceeded the life expectancy of those exposed to such conditions, reaching 80 years of age, in perfect health.
Liudmilla, a 78-year-old samosely, says she has been there We were 30 years old, drinking from radioactive water, eating from the ground, feeding on farm animals and being healthy.The help of the authorities is precarious.From time to time they receive food from the "outside world" and some hygiene products...but not enough to maintain themselves, so they survive by their own means.
"There are many healthy people here, and although we were not healthy, we are in our home and this means much more to us."
The last generation of the city Phantom could be Maria, a baby born in Pripiat in 1999.Her parents, Lida Savenko and Mikhail Vedernikov, took precautions with their feeding to avoid any risk of disease .Everything was tested with a Geiger counter, Although the girl played in a nuclear environment, where there were no other children, Maria now resides outside the area and visits her parents often.
The Ukrainian government has not legalized his stay in Pripiat, so its residents have received several notices to move to safer places, especially the youngest ones, but the will of the samosely to live until the last day of their lives in the desolate area, motivated by a deep sense of belonging, is powerful.
Part of the town is in ruins over time.There is no electricity or services of this century. Several buildings have been recovered by nature and some wild animals inhabit them .However, the samosely firmly say that, this city Built in 1970 for the workers of the Chernobyl plant, and razed by it, it is the place to which they belong.
Did you like the article? As an extra fact, the samosely, in addition to living on the land, have worked in recent years as tourist guides for the daring visitors who decide to explore the abandoned city themselves.In this Lifestyle article we talk about it: 5 Places of the world that you can't believe there are III
Images: Flickr, Tim Knifton
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