In 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded in the Ukraine due to human error. Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union; therefore, safety was not stressed. Reactors were housed improperly and not always used for their intended purposes (weapons). Toxic radioactive material (fallout) shot into the air and spread over Europe and Asia. 30 died in blast, but thousands more died from clean-up. The disaster exposed over one million people to high levels of radiation. Drinking water, rivers, and land were contaminated. Exposure to radiation caused deformities and thyroid cancer.