IAEA inspects damaged cooling tower at Zaporizhzhia NPP, cause of fire remains a mystery

The International Atomic Energy Agency has finished inspecting the damaged cooling tower at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged in a fire on August 11.

According to Reuters, IAEA experts could not immediately establish the exact cause of the fire.

As the agency reports, specialists did not find direct signs of drone remains during the inspection.

In addition, experts say it is unlikely that the fire originated at the base of the cooling tower.

"The team was unable to draw final conclusions about the cause of the fire based on the data and observations received," the IAEA said.

Experts also stressed that the most significant damage is concentrated inside the tower, precisely 10 meters above the water nozzles.

"The team confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of debris, ash, or soot at the base of the cooling tower," the statement emphasized.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues, and the IAEA promises to provide additional information as new data becomes available.

For reference:

At 8:00 p.m. on August 11, a fire erupted at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's technical water supply facility, located within Russian-occupied territory. The incident damaged cooling tower number one and other equipment.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident.

Currently, the radiation levels are within normal limits. However, the situation cannot be considered normal as long as Russian terrorists continue to hold control over the nuclear plant. Since the first day they seized the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Russia has been using it solely to blackmail both Ukraine and the entire European and global community.

"We are waiting for the reaction of the world; we are waiting for the reaction of the IAEA. Russia must be responsible for this. Only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia station can guarantee a return to normality and complete security," the head of state said.

As noted by SE "NNEGC "Energoatom," "the likely cause is the negligence of the Russian invaders or the deliberate arson of the cooling tower by the occupiers."

The NPP has been operating safely without any conditions being violated. Control levels for emissions and discharges of radioactive substances in Ukraine have not been exceeded, and there is no threat of radiation pollution to the population.

A cooling tower is a structure in the form of a tower for cooling water. The one on which the ignition occurred is located approximately one kilometer from the power units of the ZNPP.

It is known that the Russians use the premises and buildings of the nuclear power plant as military warehouses to store equipment, weapons, explosives, and ammunition. There are military vehicles in the station halls.

Cooling towers are also used as storage facilities for military equipment and ammunition, significantly increasing the risk of fires in production facilities.