9/12/2011 Explosion occurs at French nuclear facility

Source: NHK World
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 05:55 +0900 (JST)
by: Keiko Kitagawa


An explosion has occurred at a nuclear waste processing plant in the suburb of Nimes in southern France. The country's nuclear safety body says no radioactive leaks have been detected. The blast in Marcoule took place shortly before noon on Monday. One person reportedly died and 4 others were injured. The nuclear agency says the explosion occurred in an oven used to melt metallic waste that contains very little radioactivity. The plant is operated by a subsidiary of the EDF power company. A spokesperson says a fire broke out after the explosion, but it has since been brought under control. Local media say no evacuation orders have been issued to residents living near the facility. The nuclear safety authorities are investigating how the blast occurred. The International Atomic Energy Agency has set up a task force. It is asking the French authorities to provide details of the accident in order to ascertain the situation.

Editor's Note: For the history of the Mercoule Nuclear Facility, see the article "Marcoule's long nuclear history".

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