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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.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GOOGLE)

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.

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.

Olivier Marmion, the director of the regional government offices, claimed the blast did not count as a nuclear accident.

He said that although it is a "significant technical failure", it is "not a nuclear accident" because it occurred "outside the nuclear zone".

Mr Marmion said at least five people had been injured in the accident after breathing in toxic fumes.

One of the nuclear reactors was turned off as a precaution.