An explosion at a furnace at the Centraco nuclear waste treatment facility in southern France has killed one person and injured four others. France's nuclear safety watchdog, says no radioactive material has leaked outside the site.

The blast took place amid rising concern over nuclear safety in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster. Luckily, the accident in France was contained with the furnace.

France's nuclear safety authorities say no radioactive material or chemicals contaminated the interior or exterior of the site.

Nathalie Kosciusco-Morizet, French Ecology Minister said, "There were no radioactive leaks outside the site, and there is no risk of radiation leaking outside. None of the detectors on the inside or outside have found anything. I went into the command room a short while ago and saw the monitoring screen and the detectors. Everything was normal. And what is more, the IRSN, the radiological protection institute which is beside me, has carried out a number of measurements and is carrying out others to confirm this information."

A separate statement from France's Nuclear and Alternative Energy Commission added the site of the explosion remains sealed and its ventilators are operating.

The country's nuclear safety authorities are launching an inquiry into the cause of the explosion.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog says it is seeking information from France about the explosion and has activated its incident and emergency center.

France -- the world's most nuclear-reliant country -- is carrying out stress tests on its 58 nuclear reactors in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster.

The country is also a major exporter of nuclear technology and treats nuclear waste from around the world.

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