An employee at a nuclear site in France has died in a fire following an explosion this morning. Four other people were injured in the “tragic accident” at the EDF-owned industrial site. One of the injured has been evacuated to the town of Montpellier in a serious condition.

The blaze in the furnace room at the nuclear waste treatment site was brought under control at 13.06. The site operator, SOCODEI, said there had been no release of chemical or radioactive material.

In a statement, EDF said: “An investigation will be carried out to determine the precise causes of this tragic accident and the thoughts of everyone at SOCODEI are with those affected.”

The Nuclear Authority of Safety (ASN) and local authorities have been advised of the incident.