Did the citizens of Chernobyl evacuate?

Yes, the citizens of Chernobyl evacuated following the nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986. The immediate area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was evacuated within days, with approximately 116,000 people relocated from Chernobyl and nearby Pripyat. Over time, the exclusion zone was expanded, leading to the eventual relocation of around 220,000 people from the surrounding areas. The evacuation was a critical response to the severe radiation threat posed by the explosion and subsequent release of radioactive materials.