A system for confining and cooling melt from the core of a nuclear reactor comprises a guide device, a cantilever truss, a filler for receiving and distributing melt. The filler being disposed in a housing having water supply valves mounted around its perimeter and having a flange with a thermal shield mounted thereon. A drum is mounted on the flange and comprises reinforcing ribs mounted bearing against a cover and a bottom. The drum comprises tensioning elements connecting the drum, via a support flange, to the flange of the housing, and spacing elements. The drum comprises nozzles having water supply valves mounted therein with sealed covers, and hydraulic dampers connected to external sources of water and to the water supply valves by feed pipes, pressure pipes, compensating pipes and equalizing pipes, for increasing the reliability of the system for confining and cooling melt from the core of a nuclear reactor.