Soviets Report 1,000 Injured at Chernobyl
MOSCOW — The Soviet news agency Novosti reported Wednesday that 1,000 people were injured in the Chernobyl nuclear accident, more than three times the previous official figure.
The report, distributed to Western news agencies, was the first Soviet account to refer to so many casualties. Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev said May 14 that 299 people were hospitalized because of the April 26 explosion, fire and radiation release at the Ukrainian power plant.
Soviet officials have said since then that 19 people have died as a result of the accident, but recent official statements have not dealt with the total number of injured.
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