Thunderstorm shuts down nuclear reactor in Russia.

MOSCOW, July 8 (Itar-Tass) -- The fourth reactor of the biggest
Russian nuclear power plant in Balakovo on the Volga River (Saratov
region), some 900 kilometers southeast of Moscow, had to be shut down
overnight because of a thunderstorm that switched off two power
transmission lines.
"The thunderstorm on the border between Saratov and Samara regions
switched off two power transmission lines going from the Balakovo NPP and
powered by the fourth reactor. Automatic protection system switched off
the reactor at 22:05 hours Moscow time," Rosenergoatom operator said in a
statement early on Friday.
It said the shutdown proceeded normally and "there were no violations
of the limits and terms of safe operation."
"By the International Nuclear Event Scale the incident is rated as
having no consequences for the environment and the population. After the
transmission lines are switched on the reactor will resume operations,"
the statement said.
"Radioactivity background in the area of Balakovo NPP did not change
and corresponds to many-year natural indicators characteristic for the
European part of Russia - 0.11 microsievert per hour," it said.
The first reactor of the facility is undergoing planned maintenance
while the second and third reactors are operating as usual.
The Balakovo NPP annually produces 30 billion of kW/hour of
electricity.