[en] The method of scaled factorial moments is used to study fluctuations of the fragment size distribution in the percolation model and in nuclear multifragmentation following the breakup of the high energy nuclei in the nuclear emulsion. The percolation model accounts well for the fluctuations in the nuclear fragmentation process. An intermittent pattern of fluctuations is found in the data suggesting a self-similarity in the fragment size distribution and a random character for the scaling law. However, no evidence of the critical behaviour in nuclear multifragmentation is found. (orig.)