Shocking pictures show a huge dust cloud which was released after a silo at Hinkley Point C nuclear plant appeared to collapse this morning.
The 35-metre tower weighing 5,000 tonnes suffered "structural damage" at around 7.30am, when onlookers claimed to have heard what sounded like an explosion.
The plant is based near Bridgwater, which is just 160 miles from the south-east coast of Ireland.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang at around 7.30am, but energy supplier EDF has denied that a blast occurred, Somerset Live reports.
In a statement the company said: "At around 7.30am a silo in the concrete batching plant at Hinkley Point C suffered structural damage, releasing a dust cloud around the area.
"Nobody has been injured and the emergency services were not required.
"An investigation is underway to understand the cause of the event."
Formally approved by the government in 2016, Hinkley Point C has been described as "the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK" and is due to be complete in 2025.
Construction of Britain's first nuclear power plant in decades has continued during the coronavirus pandemic, as numerous workers had previously expressed their concerns about the perceived lack of social distancing measures.
In response, social distancing measures have been implemented around the site and its canteen and its workforce has been cut to fewer than 2,500.
Many health measures remain in force to prevent the spread of infection and where social distancing is not possible, workers have used extra protective equipment.
