A nuclear bomb has destroyed the town of Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, England. The United Kingdom is at Threat Level Critical and has ordered full mobilization; the United States has gone to DEFCON 2 and is beginning partial mobilization, while other NATO members have activated similar readiness levels. However, both Russia and China have vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, and NATO reports that no missile was detected either launching or in flight. Their governments report that the leaders of the United States, Britain, and Russia are in emergency consultation.
Berkeley was incinerated by the blast. The British government is carrying out an emergency evacuation of South West England, particularly the Severn Valley, the hardest-hit region.
Fallout is being carried northeast by the prevailing winds, and the cities of Brichester and Gloucester are expected to receive lethal doses of radiation. Birmingham, Manchester, and London will also be heavily affected, though the radiation they receive should not be immediately fatal. However, in addition to the fallout from the bomb, the Berkeley and Oldbury nuclear power plants have experienced meltdown, and their reactors are producing radiation plumes, worsening the crisis. Failsafes did not take effect, and all attempts to shut down the reactors have failed. It is anticipated that radiation from the plumes will most directly affect Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and northern Germany and the Netherlands, in addition to England.
A massive hole in the ozone layer has opened above South West England as a result of the blast. Long-term effects are expected to be severe.
