<P> To expedite the evacuation, residents were told to bring only what was necessary, and that they would remain evacuated for approximately three days . As a result, most personal belongings were left behind, and remain there today . By 15: 00, 53,000 people were evacuated to various villages of the Kiev region . The next day, talks began for evacuating people from the 10 km zone . Ten days after the accident, the evacuation area was expanded to 30 km (19 mi). This "exclusion zone" has remained ever since, although its shape has changed and its size has been expanded . </P> <P> Evacuation began long before the accident was publicly acknowledged by the Soviet Union . On the morning of 28 April, radiation levels set off alarms at the Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden, over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from the Chernobyl Plant . Sweden determined that the radiation had originated elsewhere, and the Swedish government contacted the Soviet government, The Soviet government denied being the source of the radiation, until the Swedish government advised the Soviet government that a report was being made to the International Atomic Energy Authority . </P> <P> At 21: 02 the evening of 28 April, a 20 - second announcement was read in the TV news programme Vremya: </P> <P> There has been an accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant . One of the nuclear reactors was damaged . The effects of the accident are being remedied . Assistance has been provided for any affected people . An investigative commission has been set up . </P>

What was the nuclear disaster in chernobyl ukraine