World News

Blast at French nuclear site kills 1, injures 4

An explosion at a nuclear waste facility in southern France has killed one person and injured four others. Authorities said there was no radioactive leak, but critics urged France to rethink its nuclear power in the wake of the catastrophe at Japan's Fukushima plant.

The Nuclear Safety Authority declared the accident "terminated" soon after the blast Sept. 12 at a furnace in the Centraco site, in the southern Languedoc-Roussillon region, about 32 km from the city of Avignon. One of the injured suffered severe burns.

The agency said the situation was brought under control less than an hour after it broke out shortly past noon. The building that houses the furnace wasn't damaged, no leaks were reported and residents who live near the site were not evacuated, the agency said in a statement.

France is the world's most nuclear-dependent nation and also a major exporter of nuclear technology throughout the world. (AP)

Shukan ST: September 23 2011

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