Marshall Islands have higher levels of radiation than Chernobyl

Nuclear waste is leaking into the sea on tropical islands in between Australia and Hawaii where radiation is 1000 times HIGHER than both Chernobyl and Fukushima

  •  Marshall Islands were hit with 67 nuclear bombs between 1946 and 1958
  •  The high levels of radiation have caused cancer and diabetes among locals
  •  50,000 people still live there and nuclear waste is leaking into the ocean 

A group of islands halfway between Australia and Hawaii have been found to contain deadly levels of radiation, 1000 times higher than toxic sites at Chernobyl and Fukushima. 

The Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean were once an idyllic tropical paradise before they were hit with more than 60 nuclear bombs during testing carried out by the United States between 1946 and 1958.

Locals were forced to flee their homes after they were hit with bombs and decades later nuclear waste is now flowing into the water.

Hit HBO docudrama Chernobyl gripped fans with harrowing scenes, depicting the grotesque effects of radiation poisoning.

Those in close proximity to the nuclear meltdown died agonizing deaths. Within days, their blood vessels hemorrhaged and their skins melted off their bodies.

Others suffered terrible side effects such as cancer and miscarriages, and hundreds of babies were born with birth defects.

But the levels of toxic radiation inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone pale in comparison to a number of islands much closer to home. 

The Marshall Islands were hit with 67 nuclear bombs as part of US testing between 1946 and 1958 (pictured)

The islands (pictured) were once an idyllic paradise for the locals that lived there but are now contaminated with extremely high levels of radiation

The islands (pictured) were once an idyllic paradise for the locals that lived there but are now contaminated with extremely high levels of radiation 

Research carried out by Columbia University and published this week detailed how the Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, around 5,000km from Australia, suffer high rates of radiation to this day.

Bikini was hit with the largest-ever hydrogen bomb, causing devastation for those living there.

Researchers found that radiation levels on Bikini Atoll ‘were up to 15 to 1000 times higher than in samples from areas affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters’.

Most of the Marshall Islands locals fled the area after the nuclear testing but there are still about 50,000 people still living there.

Some believed the residue from the bombs was snow and so they ran out under it – only to be exposed to radiation and suffer from hair loss, burns, nausea and cancer.

The two most common causes of death in people living on the Marshall Islands are diabetes and cancer as a result from the high levels of plutonium.

Bikini Atoll (pictured) was hit with the largest hydrogen bomb ever leaving locals with health impacts such as diabetes and cancer

Bikini Atoll (pictured) was hit with the largest hydrogen bomb ever leaving locals with health impacts such as diabetes and cancer 

Most locals fled the area after the bombs took place but there are still around 50,000 residents still living in the Marshall Islands

Most locals fled the area after the bombs took place but there are still around 50,000 residents still living in the Marshall Islands

After the testing, the US installed a dome on the island of Runit to contain nuclear waste.

Toxic substances are now leaking from the dome and flowing into the water.

‘The presence of radioactive isotopes on the Runit Island is a real concern, and residents should be warned against any use of the island,’ researchers said.

Some locals have already complained about birth defects and high cancer rates, despite the US’ agreement with the Republic of the Marshall Islands that it was safe for people to live there. 

After the testing, the US designed a dome (pictured) on the island of Runit to contain nuclear waste, but have recently reported that the highly toxic substances are leaking into the water

After the testing, the US designed a dome (pictured) on the island of Runit to contain nuclear waste, but have recently reported that the highly toxic substances are leaking into the water

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