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IAEA Raises Alarm Over Deteriorating Safety at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant Amid Drone Strike
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating safety conditions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, following a drone strike near the facility. Located in southeastern Ukraine, the plant has been under Russian control since early 2022, following the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On Saturday, a drone strike targeted a perimeter access road used by staff at the plant, heightening fears about the security of the facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed to Russian state-owned news agency TASS that experts on site were alerted to the detonation and promptly assessed the situation. The strike, which Russia attributed to Ukrainian forces, has intensified the already tense standoff over the safety and security of the plant.
Zaporizhzhia has been a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of attacks aimed at destabilizing the plant. Although the facility is currently dormant, the war of words between the two nations over its control and safety has persisted, with each side alleging that the other is attempting to sabotage operations and endanger the surrounding area.
In response to the latest incident, Grossi issued a stark warning. “Yet again we see an escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhia power plant,” he said in a statement. He called for “maximum restraint from all sides” and urged strict adherence to the five concrete principles established for the plant’s protection.
The site of the drone strike was reportedly close to critical infrastructure, including essential cooling water sprinkler ponds and the Dniprovska power line, the last remaining 750-kilovolt line supplying power to the plant, according to the IAEA. The proximity of the explosion to these vital components has raised alarms about the potential for a catastrophic failure.
The IAEA team that inspected the site on Saturday confirmed that the damage was consistent with an explosive payload carried by a drone. While there were no casualties and no immediate impact on nuclear equipment, the team noted significant damage to the road connecting the plant’s two main gates.
The incident underscores the growing risks to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as the conflict in Ukraine continues, with international observers increasingly concerned about the potential for a nuclear disaster in the region.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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