French Conduct A-Test at South Pacific Atoll
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Government scientists said that France on Wednesday conducted its second underground nuclear test this year at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific.
In Paris, the French Defense Ministry, in keeping with its policy, refused to confirm the report.
Warwick Smith, director of the seismological observatory in Wellington, said the test was recorded just before 5 a.m. at the earthquake recording center in Rarotonga, the Cook Islands.
He said the blast was estimated at three kilotons, which is equal to the force of 3,000 tons of TNT.
The previous explosion April 27 measured about four kilotons, he said.
Smith said the French commonly test explosive devices at Mururoa from May to June and from October to early December.
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