Due to a shocking tunnel collapse, hundreds of workers were forced to take shelter in an at-risk nuclear plant.

Hanford nuclear site has been a thorn in the US Department of energy’s side for years. Originally a plutonium site, the Hanford nuclear plant has a long history. However, it has stopped plutonium production since 1980.

This brings us to the question: Why is Hanford still standing to this day if there is no use for it? From 1980 to 1989, Hanford was left abandoned, until cleanup efforts started in 1989. Ever since cleanup efforts have started, people have been taking notice of just how toxic the area is, and there are have been much controversy over this nuclear plant over the years. Even though clean-up efforts have been estimated to cost $110 billion and to clear up 56 million gallons of toxic waste, to this day, many claim leakage from the plant that causes terminal cancers.

Just last year, the plant became the subject of controversy yet again as Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the U.S Department of Energy and their contractor for allegedly allowing leakage of vapor from these waste tanks, exposing their workers to serious health related issues. The estimated number of workers who were subjected to face the bad chemical conditions were 61. This has caused a large out roar.

Now, an, even more, grave situation has occurred. A tunnel that was once used to bury radioactive materials has been breached and caved in, causing widespread emergency about chemical leakage throughout the entire country. Governer Jay Inslee has released a statement that their priority is the safety of the workers first and foremost. Investigations are currently on-going, and hopefully, the reason why the tunnel collapsed and the worker’s safety can be resolved soon, since health is of utmost concern right now as Hanford has been dubbed “America’s underground Chernobyl waiting to happen”. This time, has the leak gone beyond salvation?

This robot is being used at Hanford right now to sample contamination in the air and on the ground. pic.twitter.com/AFOrhIbB9S

— Susannah Frame (@SFrameK5) May 9, 2017