Explosion at nuclear power plant on French coast of English Channel

A fire led to a blast in the machine room of a nuclear power plant on France's north-west coast but there was no radiation leak or casualties, operator EDF has said.
This undated photo provided by Electricite de France (EDF), France's state-run utility company, shows the current nuclear plant of Flamanville, Normandy, France. French authorities say there has been an explosion in a nuclear power plant's machine roomThis undated photo provided by Electricite de France (EDF), France's state-run utility company, shows the current nuclear plant of Flamanville, Normandy, France. French authorities say there has been an explosion in a nuclear power plant's machine room
This undated photo provided by Electricite de France (EDF), France's state-run utility company, shows the current nuclear plant of Flamanville, Normandy, France. French authorities say there has been an explosion in a nuclear power plant's machine room

Staff at the Flamanville plant in Normandy immediately brought the fire under control, EDF said.

The cause of the fire, in the number one reactor building, was not immediately clear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The machine room housing turbines that produce electricity is a non-nuclear area of the plant, which is around 100 miles south-west across the channel from Portsmouth.

There was no radiation leak as a result of the fire or blast, EDF said.

The firm said the plant’s number one reactor was subsequently disconnected from the grid - normal operating procedure in such circumstances.

Flamanville has two 1,300 megawatt reactors, the first in operation since 1985, and the second since 1986.

Related topics: