Overview
- An approximately 800-kilogram metal component fell during underwater dismantling inside the reactor pressure vessel, damaging the inner lining of the double-walled pool.
- A few cubic meters of slightly radioactive water entered the cavity between the pool walls, was captured, and the tear has been sealed.
- No injuries were reported and officials said there were no effects on the surrounding area.
- The operator classified the event as “normal,” the lowest of three reporting categories that requires notification within five days.
- Work at the Niederaichbach site is paused pending investigation, possibly until Christmas, with any impact on the February 2040 decommissioning target still unclear; the company reiterated that a restart is not possible.