UN atomic agency unable to determine cause of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant fire
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A fire at a damaged cooling tower at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Energodar, Ukraine, on Aug 11.
PHOTO: AFP
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KYIV - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said late on Aug 12 that its representatives inspected a damaged cooling tower at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, but could not immediately determine the cause of a fire there at the weekend.
Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of starting the fire at the vast dormant nuclear power plant in Ukraine, with Russia blaming a drone attack and Ukraine saying it was likely Russia’s negligence or arson.
The IAEA team found no immediate sign of drone remains and assessed it was unlikely that the primary source of the fire began at the base of the cooling tower, the IAEA said in a statement on its website.
“The team has not been able to draw definitive conclusions (on the cause of fire) on the basis of the findings and observations so far,” the UN atomic agency said.
Neither Moscow nor Kyiv have reported signs of elevated radiation.
The IAEA said damage was most likely concentrated on the interior of the tower at the water nozzle distribution level, at roughly 10m high.
“The team confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of the debris, ash or soot located at the base of the cooling tower,” the IAEA said.
“The nuclear safety of the plant was not affected as the cooling towers are not currently in operation.”
Russia captured the plant from Ukraine shortly after launching a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in 2022, in what it called a “special military operation”. REUTERS
