In an update from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), experts have conducted a thorough assessment of the impact of a fire that occurred yesterday at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) accessed the cooling tower area this morning to evaluate the consequences of the incident.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported that based on their observations, it is unlikely that the primary source of the fire originated at the base of the cooling tower. During their visit to the impacted cooling tower, the team identified that the damage was most likely concentrated on the interior of the tower, specifically at the water nozzle distribution level, located approximately ten metres high. The team has requested access to this level for further investigation.

The ISAMZ team observed burnt areas in the internal equipment near the water nozzle distribution level and found droplets of burnt plastic and fragments of fallen concrete scattered across the cold-water basin. These observations suggest that melted and fallen plastic mesh from the fire was present. Samples of the debris, including burnt and molten plastic, were collected for further analysis. The lingering odour from the fire was assessed by the team, and it was determined that it was more likely caused by burning plastic rather than sulphur.

It is worth noting that no evidence of tyres or drones was observed during the walkdown. The team also confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of debris, ash, or soot located at the base of the cooling tower.

The nuclear safety of the plant remains uncompromised, as the cooling towers are not currently operational. The cooling towers are not integral to the cooling mechanism for the reactors, which are all in a state of cold shutdown. No radioactive material is present in the area of the cooling towers, which are located approximately 1.5 kilometres away from the reactor units at ZNPP. The team conducted radiation monitoring in the vicinity of the cooling towers and reactors, confirming no signs of elevated radiation levels.

To gather additional information and verify the authenticity of the evidence, the ISAMZ team has requested to accompany ZNPP staff when they photograph the upper part of the water nozzle distribution level. However, the team has yet to draw definitive conclusions based on their current findings and observations. The IAEA will continue its overall analysis after further review and access to the water nozzle distribution level and the cold-water basin.