Massive wildfires sweeping across southwestern France have approached defense hubs, including nuclear facilities, putting authorities on high alert to block the flames.

According to CNN on the 27th (local time), the western region of Bordeaux most exposed to the wildfire risks is densely packed with defense and aerospace industry facilities.

In particular, key plants responsible for producing M51 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and supplying fuel are located in the area where authorities issued a preemptive evacuation order on the 25th.

ArianeGroup, the aerospace and defense company that owns the plants, stated that personnel have been successfully evacuated from all affected facilities and that all necessary measures have been implemented to protect the sites.

The company added that it is managing the situation in close cooperation with local and central governments.

Near Bordeaux is also a French nuclear research facility equipped with the Laser Mégajoule, a large-scale device that simulates nuclear tests.

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) stated that there is no risk of radioactive leakage as the facility contains no nuclear materials, but the site was completely shut down due to the wildfire.

The CEA explained that local security personnel are responding to the emergency and plans are underway to deploy additional personnel if necessary.

Local firefighting authorities emphasized that protecting these strategic facilities is the top priority second only to saving human lives.

Marc Vermeulen, head of the Gironde Fire and Rescue Service, said, "Protecting such facilities from wildfires is the highest priority following the saving of human lives."

Gironde Prefect Sophie Brocas stated at a recent press conference that firefighters are "conducting civil engineering work to build firebreaks around sensitive facilities and clearing surrounding vegetation so that it does not serve as fuel for spreading flames."

The French military also announced that it is supporting firefighting operations by deploying experts and equipment to the scene to protect the industrial facilities.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)