Re: Re: It comes with the job.
The report I read (which I concede I cannot verify) was that thousands died, although it was not immediate. Many died months later from cancers attributed to the radiation exposure. The helicopter crews, in particular, flew in knowing it was going to be their last mission. The Soviet government did do everything it could to cover up almost everything about the accident, so even if that "thousands" figure is exaggerated, I wouldn't be surprised if it was much higher than the official numbers.