About 200 people working at the site of a cutting-edge nuclear reactor under construction in northern France were evacuated Tuesday after smoke was detected at the site, officials said.

The workers were evacuated "as a precaution", authorities in the Manche region said in a statement, adding that firefighters deployed to the Flamanville site on the Normandy coast had contained the smoke.

The officials said the smoke was caused by "contact between oil and a source of heat, (making) the air difficult to breathe", but that no one was hurt.

Officials at the plant could not be reached for comment.

The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) that is under construction alongside two existing reactors at the site is a third-generation design touted as the world's biggest and most advanced nuclear reactor.

Two EPR reactors are scheduled to be built at Hinkley Point in southwestern Britain under a Chinese-backed deal announced last year.

But the Flamanville project, along with another EPR contract in Finland, has been plagued by delays and technical problems.

Construction began in December 2007, with an operational start initially scheduled for the end of 2012. Costs have since tripled to 10.5 billion euros ($12.4 billion).

Tweet

Russia opens commission into 'nuclear incident' report
Moscow (AFP) Nov 24, 2017
A Russian scientific commission will investigate reports of radioactive pollution almost 1,000 times above normal levels in the southern Urals, state nuclear company Rosatom said Friday. The move comes despite Russia's denial that a nuclear accident had occurred at any of its nuclear facilities. "Nuclear scientists have created a commission to discover the origin of ruthenium-106," Rosat ... read more

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only