AN 'EMERGENCY alert' affecting the nuclear plant in Ascó (Tarragona province) at 02.12 this morning (Tuesday) after a fire broke out has been called off, authorities have announced.
Management at the Ascó I reactor contacted the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) in accordance with usual procedures in the event of a fire which continues for longer than 10 minutes.
The plant shut down its combustible fuel recharging and discharging to avoid a nuclear disaster after the blaze started due to water dripping onto the standard electricity supply bar switches during recharging in the turbine building, the CSN says.
Normal electricity supply was lost and a diesel generator put into action, but the incident 'does not present any radiological risk', according to the CSN.
“The plant's refrigeration is guaranteed and there is no risk of radioactive emissions,” said a spokesperson.
An emergency alert at Mode 1, or 'reduced risk' level, was issued, but was withdrawn at exactly 03.31 and replaced with an 'emergency pre-alert' due to the continued absence of an external electricity supply.
The CSN assures that the Ascó I fire has not had any adverse effects on workers, the environment, nor the wider population, and has been classified as Level 0 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).
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