Jellyfish bloom forces shutdown of French nuclear reactors

France's largest nuclear power plant, Gravelines, has seen its operations significantly disrupted by an overwhelming bloom of jellyfish. Three of the plant's six reactors have been completely shut down, while a fourth is operating at a reduced capacity, leaving only one reactor functioning as intended.

The French nuclear operator, EDF, confirmed the shutdowns were a direct result of the massive influx of jellyfish. While the incident has caused a substantial reduction in power output, EDF has assured that it poses no immediate threat to the safety or environmental integrity of the facility.

The situation highlights the unexpected challenges that natural phenomena can pose to critical infrastructure. The extensive jellyfish bloom has forced a significant portion of the plant offline, underscoring the vulnerability of cooling systems in nuclear power plants to marine life.