French nuclear plant had to suspend operations due to a swarm of jellyfish

Four reactors at the French nuclear power plant in Gravelines, in the north of the country, had to shut down last night because of a swarm of jellyfish. The animals clogged the plant’s cooling system, French energy company EDF said, according to Reuters.

One of France’s largest nuclear power plants uses water from a canal connected to the North Sea for cooling. Its second, third and fourth reactors shut down automatically after a swarm of jellyfish, which EDF described as enormous and unpredictable, entered the filter drums that draw in water to cool the plant. Unit 6 stopped operating for the same reason shortly afterwards.

The six-reactor plant is now completely offline, according to EDF data, as the remaining two reactors are undergoing scheduled maintenance. The incident posed no risk to the facility, its employees or the environment, the French company added.