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 around 5,000 tonnes, suffered "structural damage" at around 7.30am, when onlookers claimed to have heard what sounded like an explosion.
The plant - which is still under construction and is set to be completed in 2025 - is based near Bridgwater in Somerset.
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 no one had been hurt.
The energy supplier stated: "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."
The silo, which contains ground granulated blast furnace slag, is described as "important" and plays a "pivotal" role in the station's construction by reusing the material within its concrete.
The plant was given government approval in 2016, and is estimated to have cost around £20 billion to build.
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 has continued through the coronavirus pandemic, although workers have voiced concerns about social distancing measures.
Last year the Mirror reported that the Treasury had struck a deal with EDF that means the UK will pay £92.50 per megawatt-hour, roughly twice the current market rate.
The price is indexed to inflation, meaning the final number could be much greater.
EDF wants to build another station at Sizewell in Suffolk. It is understood that the company is confident it could bring construction cost down from Hinkley Point's £20bn to about £16bn.
