or a core meltdown. RBMK reactors, like those at Chernobyl, use water as a coolant, circulated by electrically driven pumps. Reactor no.4 had 1,661 individual fuel channels, requiring over 45 million litres of coolant per hour for the entire reactor.

In case of a total power loss, each of Chernobyl's reactors had three backup diesel generators, but they took 60-75 seconds to reach full load and generate the 5.5 MW needed to run