Explosion at Flamanville nuclear station

An explosion has ripped through a machine room at the giant power station on the Norman coast at Flamanville this morning, injuring five workers but not resulting in any leakage of radioactivity, French authorities reassured.

The blast occurred at 10am French time in a machine room and sent smoke into the air above one of the reactors at the site causing concern to local residents.

A statement from the Prefecture of the Manche department stressed that the explosion occurred in an area of the factory where no radioactive materials were present. There is no risk to persons or the environment, the Prefect said.

Firemen from Les Pieux and Cherbourg were quickly on the scene and were followed by ambulances and medics who treated the five workers for what was described as 'intoxication' understood to be from smoke inhalation.

Seven workers were in the machine room at the time.