Forgotten Chernobyl-era tragedy: Radioactive blue powder spread death in Goiânia

Nearly four decades after a tragic radiological accident in Goiânia, Brazil, the event is regaining public attention through the Netflix miniseries "Radioactive Emergency." The disaster, which unfolded in September 1987, involved a stolen radioactive source that spread death and contamination throughout the city.

The incident began when two scavengers broke into an abandoned radiotherapy clinic and removed a medical device containing lead. Unbeknownst to them, the device housed a capsule of cesium-137. Fascinated by the glowing blue powder emitted by the material, they took it home, shared it with relatives, and even played with it, unaware of the severe danger they were exposing themselves and others to.

This careless handling led to one of history's most severe radiological accidents. Four people died, and 249 others were contaminated. In response, authorities examined over 112,800 individuals, isolated parts of the city, demolished contaminated buildings, and collected approximately 3,500 cubic meters of radioactive waste.

The Netflix miniseries, released on March 18, 2026, chronicles the efforts of doctors and specialists to identify contaminated individuals and contain the spread of the radioactive material. The production has achieved significant international success, reaching the number one spot on Netflix's global charts for non-English language productions within its first two weeks, garnering over 10.8 million views and appearing in the top rankings of 55 countries.