How many people were affected by the Chernobyl accident?

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 had a profound impact on the lives of many people. Approximately 600,000 individuals were involved in the initial response and cleanup efforts, known as "liquidators," while thousands of residents were evacuated from the surrounding areas. Long-term health effects, including increased cancer rates, have also affected tens of thousands of people across Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. Estimates suggest that the total number of people impacted, either directly or indirectly, could reach into the hundreds of thousands or even millions over the decades following the disaster.