An explosion and fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on April 26, 1986 released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Operator error caused by deficiencies in reactor design, safety procedures, and operator training led to an unexpected surge in reactor power. The radioactive contamination spread over much of Europe, exposing people to radiation and causing economic impacts through lost agricultural production and cleanup costs in Ukraine and Belarus. Only 30 deaths were directly attributed to the accident, but it was the worst nuclear disaster in history due to the massive radioactive release.