Belarus removes Gomel from Chernobyl radiation zone list

Belarus will remove 177 settlements, including the cities of Gomel, Luninets and Iuye, as well as the urban-type settlement of Lelchytsy, from its official list of radioactive contamination zones following an updated assessment of radiation levels.

The Council of Ministers has approved a resolution revising the list of settlements and facilities located in radioactive contamination zones. Subject to approval by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, the changes are due to take effect on January 1, 2027, Caliber.Az reports, citing Belarus media.

Once the revised list comes into force, 1,845 radiation-contaminated settlements will remain, home to approximately 364,200 people. The 177 settlements being removed from the list have a combined population of about 566,400. The number of designated contaminated facilities will also be reduced from 49 to 33.

The government said the decision followed a comprehensive review of radiation conditions conducted between 2021 and 2025 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Health.

"An analysis of the results from the work conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Health from 2021 to 2025, which involved surveying contaminated areas through soil sampling and assessing radiation exposure to the population, revealed a significant improvement in conditions in certain settlements affected by radionuclide contamination," the government's telegram channel explains the decision.

Authorities said free meal benefits for children living or attending educational institutions in the settlements removed from the contamination list will remain in place until June 2027.

The revision marks a significant reduction from the previous official figures. As of February 8, 2021, Belarus classified 2,022 settlements and 49 facilities as being within radioactive contamination zones, affecting approximately 930,600 residents.

By Vafa Guliyeva