The picture shows two women perched on a massive, rusted claw once attached to a construction digger — a piece of machinery used during the cleanup of Chernobyl’s reactor number four after the catastrophic 1986 explosion. This claw, contaminated with radioactive dust and particles, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous artifacts left outside of the sealed reactor.

While visiting the Chernobyl exclusion zone was once possible under the supervision of certified guides, tourism to the site has been halted due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Even before access was restricted, experts strongly warned visitors against making physical contact with contaminated objects.

A Reminder of the World’s Worst Nuclear Accident

The Chernobyl disaster occurred when reactor four exploded, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere and making the nearby city of Pripyat permanently uninhabitable. Nearly four decades later, reminders of the catastrophe are still scattered across the exclusion zone — from abandoned buildings to radioactive debris like the infamous claw.

Though the most hazardous relic, known as the Elephant’s Foot — a solidified mass of nuclear fuel and molten materials — remains sealed inside the reactor under the New Safe Confinement, the claw rests in the open air, making it one of the most dangerous items visitors can still physically reach.

How Dangerous Is the Claw?

According to radiation experts, standing close to the claw for just a few minutes may not cause immediate harm. The object emits about 0.3 millisieverts per hour, meaning that less than 20 minutes of exposure equals the dose of a chest x-ray. However, the real danger lies in something far less obvious: the radioactive dust coating the claw.

As one Reddit user explained, “The reason this thing is radioactive is that it’s coated with radioactive dirt. Dust that clings to skin, clothes, or shoes can continue emitting radiation and might even be ingested later.” In other words, while a short exposure may not cause severe health effects, careless contact can still carry long-term risks.

Another commenter bluntly noted: “Would I sit on it? Absolutely not. This is the most radioactive thing in the zone that visitors can actually touch.”

Comparing to the Elephant’s Foot

The claw is undoubtedly dangerous, but it pales in comparison to the terrifying Elephant’s Foot. Just 30 seconds of unprotected exposure to that radioactive mass could trigger acute symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, fever, and internal cellular damage. In the earliest years after the disaster, even brief contact was lethal.

Although radiation levels around the Elephant’s Foot have diminished over time, it continues to emit heat and stands as a stark reminder of the 31 people who died immediately from radiation poisoning and injuries, along with the countless others who later suffered long-term health consequences.

A Lasting Symbol of Chernobyl’s Legacy

More than 37 years after the explosion, relics like the claw continue to attract curiosity-seekers and raise questions about how humanity remembers and interacts with the scars of its past. To many, the photo of the tourists is more than a careless stunt — it’s a symbol of how easily history can be trivialized in the age of viral images.

Despite the risks, the claw remains in the exclusion zone, slowly corroding but still dangerously radioactive. Experts caution that it should serve as a lesson: what may look like harmless scrap metal is, in reality, a deadly reminder of one of the most devastating technological disasters in human history.