EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 30 (UPI) -- A British nuclear power plant had to be shut down after huge numbers of jellyfish in seawater entering the plant clogged cooling water filters, officials said.
Both reactors at the Torness power station in Scotland were shut down when the jellyfish were discovered Tuesday, the BBC reported.
The shutdown was a precautionary measure and there was never any danger to the public, EDF energy, the operator of the plant in East Lothian, said.
As cleanup gets under way, officials said, it could take a week before Torness is operational again.
The nuclear power plant operates two Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors but relies on seawater as a backup cooling system.
The seawater system is equipped with filers to prevent seaweed and marine life from entering.
It is not known why so many jellyfish have appeared in the area, as water temperatures along the east coast of Scotland have been relatively normal.
It is thought higher than normal temperatures elsewhere in the North Sea may be a cause, officials said.
