Another Chernobyl Explosion Possible

The damaged Chernobyl nuclear plant could explode again, sending another plume of highly radioactive dust over Europe, The Observer reported Sunday.

The newspaper quoted a report funded by the European Union that said the dividing wall between Chernobyl’s burned-out No. 4 reactor and the still functioning No. 3 reactor is becoming instable.

If the wall were to collapse, it could send debris crashing through the concrete sarcophagus built around the irradiated No. 4 reactor following the April 1986 explosion and fire at the Ukrainian nuclear complex.

Falling debris also could damage the No. 3 reactor, break coolant pipes and cause a partial nuclear core meltdown, The newspaper said.