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Mountain power station evacuated after reported 'explosion'

News imageGetty Images The dam is dark grey in colour with the grey waters of a reservoir behind it. The dam is in a mountain landscape of heather-covered hills.Getty Images
The hydro power station at Ben Cruachan has a 316m-long dam

A hydro-electric power station built inside the highest mountain in Argyll and Bute has been evacuated after a reported explosion.

Emergency services were called to the Cruachan Power Station at Ben Cruachan, near Dalmally at 17:10 on Tuesday.

Police Scotland said it had received a "report of an explosion". There were no reported injuries.

Owner Drax Power said the alarm was raised after "smoke was detected" inside the cavern and the site was safely evacuated.

A Drax spokesperson added: "An investigation into the cause of the incident is now under way."

News imageDrax A long industrial hallway showing four large yellow turbines and a steel walkway with 1960s style flooring and wall decor, below a curved concrete ceiling.Drax
The power station, known as Hollow Mountain, was built inside a large cavern at Ben Cruachan

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said four fire engines were sent to the scene and remained until about 20:00.

It said there were no flames, but crews had monitored the situation to prevent any threat of fire.

The pumped storage power station inside the 3,694ft (1,126m) mountain was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965.

At the time, it was the first project of its kind in the world.

It has a 316m-long large dam and is housed underground within a huge cavern inside Ben Cruachan - which is nicknamed Hollow Mountain.

Scenes for Star Wars spin-off series Andor were filmed at Cruachan.

News imageA street level Google map view of Ben Cruachan which shows the surrounding lochs and reliefs of the hill. Cruachan Hydro Station and the village of Dalmally are marked on the map.