MULTIPLE people have been injured after a huge blast ripped through a nuclear power plant.

The incident happened this morning at the Flamanville Nuclear facility in north-west France. Local reports are stating the explosion happened in the engine room and a number of people have been left feeling unwell. Firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene but the extent of the damage and injuries remains unclear. The plant – owned by French energy giants Électricité de France (EDF) – is incredibly close to the British coast and the Isle of Wight is just over a hundred miles away.

GETTY BLAST: An explosion ripped through the engine room of the nuclear power plant

GOOGLE CLOSE: The plant in north-west France is incredibly close to the British coast

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Officials at Flamanville have so far declined to comment on the situation. But other sources have played down the nuclear meltdown risk, saying the blast did not happen in the "nuclear zone". The two reactors at the site were built in 1986 and 1987 and a third reactor is on course to be completed next year. The explosion will no doubt raise fears of another Fukushima-style disaster.

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There were early fears that Brits in Jersey and Guernsey could be at risk due to the plant's proximity to them. The north-easterly wind today is blowing directly over the picturesque islands that are literally 10 miles off the French coast. But the incident was declared over at 11:00. Last year, Daily Star Online examined what would happen in the event of a nuclear meltdown in the UK. An anti-nuclear power pressure group put together maps showing that in such a densely populated country like this one, it would cause widespread death and destruction.