Control of the safety and reliability of nuclear facilities. first part/ Analysis of incidents at the nuclear power plant of the Blayais during the tempest of the 27. december 1999: lessons on the flood risk of nuclear facilities

In the night from 27. to 28 of december 1999, waves coming from the Gironde estuary, have passed over the protection dykes of the Blayais nuclear power plant and have inundated the basement in two buildings. This incident have been classified at the level 2 of the INES scale and have led to stop two units on the fourth ones of the Blayais nuclear power plant. Some failures against the flood risk appeared during this event and a first analysis to estimate the flood risk again in nuclear power plants have been realised. (N.C.)