Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has stirred painful memories of events at Chernobyl in Ukraine 25 years ago.

It was the world's worst nuclear disaster and is believed to have killed thousands of people.

And even today, almost 200 tonnes of melted nuclear fuel rods remain within Reactor Four at Chernobyl, covered by a sarcophagus designed to last only ten years.

Andrey Glukhov worked at the Chernobyl power plant at the time of the accident.

He lived in the town of Pripyat just three kilometres from the plant.

Andrey went back there to share his memories with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Richard Hollingham for Outlook.

He recalled how he heard the explosion on the night of the 26th April 1986. He had been due to work a shift that night which was cancelled at the last minute.

When he called the team to find out what had happened he was told to look out of his window. It was only then, when he saw the smoke, that he realised that something was seriously wrong.

The town of Pripyat is now deserted. Andrey brought his family to see their old home 10 years ago. He said it was a very emotional trip. All the family were crying.

Andrey still works at Chernobyl where now a new shelter is being built to secure the wreckage there for at least a century.

First broadcast March 17 2011