19年前發生的車諾比核災，到今年年中為止，直接死於這次幅射外洩災難的人數將近50人，這些死者幾乎全是接觸到高計量輻射的救災人員，大多數在數個月內即死亡，也有的到去年才身故。不過，超過一百位科學家的國際團隊指出，最後因幅射曝露而死亡的總人數，很可能會高達4,000人。目前，白俄羅斯、俄羅斯、烏克蘭及聯合國辦事處的官員於6日召開會議，7日並於維也納召開史無前例的會議，討論這些新發現並提出建議。
A total of up to 4,000 people could eventually die of radiation exposure from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident nearly 20 years ago, an international team of more than 100 scientists has concluded in a new report. But as of mid-2005, fewer than 50 deaths had been directly attributed to radiation from the disaster. Nearly all of the 50 people who died were highly exposed rescue workers, many who died within months of the accident but others who died as late as 2004. Officials from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine and UN agencies are meeting in Vienna at an unprecedented gathering to consider these findings and recommendations.
