The structural integrity of cooling tower number 1 needs to be assessed following a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine and there may be a need to dismantle it, an International Atomic Energy Agency team at the Russia-controlled site has been told.

IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi said the team had viewed evidence that continues to indicate that Monday’s fire did not start at the base of the cooling tower.

The IAEA team was provided with copies of photos and footage which confirmed extensive damage to the internal components at the water nozzle distribution level inside the cooling tower.

“The evidence gathered reinforces our conclusion that the main fire seems unlikely to be at the base of the cooling tower,” Grossi said.