www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/09/12/...plosion.html?cmp=rss
French nuclear plant explosion kills at least 1
1 believed dead after Marcoule plant blast
CBC News
Posted: Sep 12, 2011 7:58 AM ET
Last Updated: Sep 12, 2011 8:14 AM ET
Six months into Japan's cleanup, radiation a major worry
Accessibility Links
Beginning of Story Content
The explosion at the Marcoule nuclear plant in southern France has reportedly killed at least one person.The explosion at the Marcoule nuclear plant in southern France has reportedly killed at least one person. (STF/AFP/Getty Images)
An explosion at the Marcoule nuclear plant in southern France on Monday morning has killed at least one person.
Three people were also injured in the explosion, which followed a fire in a storage site for radioactive waste.
Marcoule is a major site involved with the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and operates a pressurized water reactor used to produce tritium.
The seriousness of the accident wasn't immediately clear, but the BBC reports there is a risk of a radioactive leak after the blast at the plant in the Gard region of France.
Evangelia Petit of the Agency for Nuclear Safety confirmed the explosion had taken place, but declined to provide any further details.
Officials in the Gard region also confirmed the explosion, but also could not give any further information.
The Marcoule site is located in Langedoc Roussillon, near the Mediterranean Sea.
More to come
With files from The Associated Press