Cryptic crossword clue
Nuclear accident is source of blaze on base 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word BLOWDOWN

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
B
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O
W
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N

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Nuclear accident" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case nuclear accident = blowdown.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does BLOWDOWN mean?

BLOWDOWN noun
  1. (chemical engineering) The removal of liquid and solid hydrocarbons from a refinery vessel by the use of pressure
  2. (industrial engineering) Cooling fluid discharged from a plant at the end of its cycle.
  3. Uprooting, overtopping, or bole breakage of trees by the wind; windthrow and windsnap.

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