What happens if a nuclear power plant gets bombed? What happens if a nuclear weapon is used on a nuclear power plant? Will Israel attack Iran’s nuclear facilities? What would happen if Russia and Ukraine military action damaged each others’ nuclear power stations? Are nuclear plants protected under international law?

What happens if a nuclear weapon is used on a nuclear power plant?

Answer

The blast and heat impacts of  even a small nuclear weapon (e.g. 10kT) would blow apart a nuclear reactor, and any containment buildings in the vicinity. The radioactive components within the reactor and stored fuel rods would be highly fragmented, and in some cases vaporised, and would contribute additional radioactive particles to the smoke and debris transported downwind from the blast centre. It is estimated that 100% of the Cesium-137 contained in reactor cores and spent fuel pools would be released into the environment following a nuclear attack on a nuclear power plant. The combined impact could release tens of millions of curies of Cesium-137, and it is estimated that 2,000 square kilometres are rendered uninhabitable by every million curies released. 

The cesium-137 would be released to the atmosphere in small particles that would travel downwind and be deposited on the ground and other surfaces. The deposited particles would emit intense gamma radiation, leading to external, whole-body radiation doses to exposed persons. Cesium-137 would also contaminate water and foodstuffs, resulting in internal radioactive contamination and significantly increasing the likelihood of cancers and other health problems.