smoke, but “no sign of seriousness”, according to its director

Late this Wednesday morning, smoke was detected at the Orano industrial site in Bessines-sur-Gartempe (Haute-Vienne). Emergency services were quickly mobilized. According to the company, the situation is under control. The 100 employees were evacuated. New analyzes are planned for this Thursday.

“No sign of seriousness”reassures Régis Mathieu, the director of Orano in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, this Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Earlier in the day, around noon, smoke was seen at the Extractive Metallurgy Innovation Center (CIME), indicates the director.

Checks have been carried out and will be carried out again tomorrow, Thursday, by theInstitute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN). Although this site is not Seveso classified, unlike others in the group, it is classified and remains under surveillance for environmental protection issues.

The firefighters, the national gendarmerie, the regional environment directorate, prefecture and nuclear safety authority “were immediately contacted”indicates the group.

The more than 100 employees were evacuated and sheltered in the mine’s interactive museum. “As a precautionary measure and in accordance with our internal procedures, all site employees were gathered, then invited to return to their homes. Additional checks are underway to assess the situation,” shapeless Oran.

This large-scale device is the company’s protocol, although there is no serious risk at this time, management indicates.

The prefect of Haute-Vienne, François Pesneau also appeared on site. The latter published on the social network X, a little earlier in the afternoon. He advised avoiding the area “in order to facilitate the work of the services present on site.”

Firefighters are still on site at 4:30 p.m., but there are no further interventions underway.

Tags Vienne France