Flamanville explosion: "no cause for concern"

Thursday 09 February 2017

Several people have been injured following an explosion at the Flamanville nuclear power plant in France – just 30 miles from Jersey’s coast. Meanwhile, the authorities in Jersey have moved to reassure Islanders that there is, "...no cause for any concern."

The blast occurred at 09:40 and is not being treated by the French authorities as a nuclear accident, although one of the reactors has been shut down.

According to firemen, an explosion and fire were detected in the centre of the station, outside of the nuclear zone.

The incident has now been closed, but five people are being treated for smoke inhalation.

Olivier Marmion, a senior regional official, explained* that it was, “A significant technical incident, but not a nuclear accident.”

“Five people are mildly poisoned, but are not hurt,” he added.

Reactor 1 has since been switched off as a precautionary measure, and the fire at the station was expected to be "fully contained" shortly before midday French time.

Video: Breaking news report about the explosion on Euronews, France.

A spokesman for the Government of Jersey commented:

"The authorities at Flamanville contacted the States of Jersey Police this morning to inform them that there had been a small explosion and fire in a machine room at the plant. The Chief of Staff at the Préfecture of la Manche also contacted Jersey’s Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes and explained that the fire was in an area where no nuclear materials were present and had been extinguished.

"These calls were made out of courtesy despite the fact that the fire did not involve nuclear materials and the Flamanville emergency plan was not triggered. The Jersey authorities are in ongoing communication with the Préfecture and would like to reassure Islanders that this will have no impact on Jersey and there is no cause for any concern."

EDF have since issued a statement* on the incident: "At 09:40 (08:40 GMT) this morning, a fire resulting in a minor explosion broke out in the turbine hall on the non-nuclear part of unit one at the Flamanville nuclear power plant. The fire was immediately brought under control by the plant's response team. 

"As per normal procedure, the fire brigade went to the affected location and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished. Unit one was disconnected from the grid. There were no casualties.

"There were no consequences for safety at the plant or for environmental safety."

Départ de feu rapidement maîtrisé à la centrale EDF de #Flamanville https://t.co/sJzCNUu8ja

— EDF Flamanville (@EDFFlamanville) February 9, 2017

*Translated from French.