Fire at nuclear research center: Two people suffer burns to the face

From Doris Heimann

Otwock - Two people have been injured in a fire at a nuclear research center in Poland. The fire at the National Center for Nuclear Research in Otwock near Warsaw has now been extinguished and there is no danger from radioactive radiation, a spokesman for the local fire department told TVN24.

Fortunately, the fire was far away from the research reactor.
Fortunately, the fire was far away from the research reactor.  © Montage: Screenshot/X/MagdaGrajnert

The fire broke out in an administration building, a spokeswoman for the research center told the PAP news agency.

As this building is located far away from the research reactor, it was not endangered by the fire.

According to the fire department, 32 people were evacuated from the administration building to safety. Two of them were taken to hospital with burns to their faces and hands.

The National Center for Nuclear Research is one of the largest research institutes in Poland and has the country's only nuclear research reactor.

Poland does not yet have any nuclear power plants to generate energy. However, Germany's neighboring country is planning to go nuclear on a large scale.

Construction of the first reactor unit in Slajszewo, north-west of Gdansk, is due to begin in 2026 at the latest. The nuclear power plant is scheduled to go online in 2033.