the scale continued. The accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant after an unsafe systems test led to a series of steam explosions that destroyed reactor number four. The plume spread in the near distance primarily over Belarus and after that covered extensive portions of Europe with traces of radioactivity, leaving reindeer in Northern Europe and sheep in portions of England unfit for human consumption. A "Zone of alienation" has been formed around the reactor. At least 57 accidents and severe incidents have occurred since the Chernobyl disaster, and over 56 severe incidents have occurred in the USA. Relatively few accidents have involved fatalities, with roughly 74 casualties being attributed to accidents and half of these were those involved in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Belgium This list is incomplete but there are no known fatalities in Belgium. See the Laka Foundation's list of recent nuclear and radiological incidents in Belgium from which this table is (partially derived). Canada France Germany India Japan Pakistan Russia South Korea Serbia Switzerland Sweden Taiwan Ukraine United Kingdom United States See also Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents List of nuclear and radiation fatalities by country References External links The Worst Nuclear Disasters TIME magazineU.S. Nuclear Accidents Compiled by allen lutins'' Accidents by country Accidents Accidents by country