In early January emergency reactor shutdown systems were activated at the Smolensk nuclear power plant in Desnogorsk. Bryansk Radio reported that canisters containing propane had exploded at the site, but subsequent events put this explanation in doubt. Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on 22 January that instruments at the Bryansk city administration building initially recorded a radiation background of 22 microroentgens/h at midday and then 35 microroentgens/h later, although the radiation situation at the plant had been reported to be normal. During the next few days, residents throughout Bryansk experienced headaches and burning in the throat - the same symptoms as reported after the explosion at Chernobyl. The Gazeta suggested that the sudden increase indicated that something had happened at Smolensk, but there has been no further official comment.
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