Anthony Barber of Reuters

An article published in The Independent on 30 July 1987, by Anthony Barber of Reuters 

The former head of the Chernobyl nuclear plant power station, and two aides, were sentenced today to 10 years in a labour camp, the maximmn term they faced for their part in the world s worst nuclear accident. 

The Ukranian plant s former director Viktor Bryukhanov, former chief engineer, Nikolai Fomin, and his deputy, Anatoly Dyatlov, were found guilty of gross violation of safety regulations which led to an explosion. 

Three other officials received terms of up to five years in a labour camp at the end of a three week trial, most of which was held behind closed doors in the town of Chernobyl, 18 km (11 miles) southeast of the atomic station. 

The explosion and a fire at the plant s fourth reactor on April 26 last year killed 31 people, forced the evacuation of 135,000 residents from high radiation zones around Chernobyl, and spread radiation across much of England and Europe. 

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