IAEA: Cause of fire damaging Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant cooling tower unclear

(Patria) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced late last night that its representatives inspected the damaged cooling tower at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, but could not immediately determine the cause of a fire there over the weekend.

Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of starting the fire at Ukraine's vast nuclear plant, with Russia blaming a drone attack and Ukraine saying it was likely due to Russian negligence or arson, Reuters reports.

The IAEA team found no immediate signs of drone debris and assessed that it was unlikely the primary source of the fire originated at the base of the cooling tower, the IAEA said in a statement on its website.

"The team was not able to draw definitive conclusions (on the cause of the fire) based on the findings and observations to date," the agency stated.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv reported signs of elevated radiation.

The IAEA said the damage was likely concentrated on the interior of the tower at the water spray distribution level, at about ten meters high.

"The team confirmed that there were no significant signs of debris, ash or soot found at the bottom of the cooling tower," the IAEA said.

"The plant's nuclear safety has not been compromised, as the cooling towers are not currently in operation."

Russia occupied the nuclear plant shortly after launching its full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor in 2022, which it calls a "special military operation."