Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 21st Nov. UN International nuclear watchdog agency IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in a statement released on Sunday said that a powerful explosions shook the area near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, “abruptly ending a period of relative calm” at the facility.
Mr. Grossi said that that blasts yesterday evening and again this morning further underlined “the urgent need for measures to help prevent a nuclear accident there”.
“As I have said many times before, you’re playing with fire!,” he added.
IAEA experts on the ground reported that over a dozen blasts were heard within a short period of time in the morning local timeiIn what appeared to be renewed shelling near and at the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
The agency team was able to see some of the explosions from their windows.
Mr. Grossi said “The news from our team yesterday and this morning is extremely disturbing.
He cited the information provided by plant management, the IAEA team said there had been damage to some buildings, systems, and equipment at the site, but noncritical for nuclear safety and security.
“Explosions occurred at the site of this major nuclear power plant, which is completely unacceptable”, he added. “Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately”.
According to news reports, Russian and Ukrainian nuclear energy authorities each blamed the other side’s forces for the strikes triggered fears of a serious nuclear accident. There have been no reports of any radiation leaks at the Russian-occupied plant.
IAEA experts said that there were no reported casualties, and they are in close contact with site management.
They assessed and relay updates on the situation, the IAEA chief Grossi renewed his urgent appeal that both sides of the conflict agree to implement a nuclear safety and security zone around the ZNPP as soon as possible.
He has been engaging in intense consultations with Ukraine and Russia on establishing a zone but, so far, no agreement has been reached.
“I’m not giving up until this zone has become a reality”, said Mr. Grossi.
Grossi concluded that “As the ongoing apparent shelling demonstrates, it is needed more than ever”.
Comments are closed.