IAEA says shelling reported near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

(Reuters) -The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Tuesday its team at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant heard shelling close to the site and observed black smoke rising from three nearby locations.

The IAEA team was informed that multiple artillery shells struck an area outside the plant's perimeter, around 400 metres (437 yards) from its off-site diesel fuel storage facility, the agency said in a statement.

"While there were no reports of casualties or equipment damage, the incident once again underlined the constant dangers to nuclear safety and security," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

(Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)