Wildfires in the south of France have revealed a cache of 400 historic shells and munitions in the village of Le Porge, according to local authorities.
Buildup of explosions during the fires, originally thought to be gas cylinders, may in fact have been World War Two explosives detonating under the intense heat, said the local fire commander to the press.
The mayor, Martial Zaninetti, reported that more than 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the blaze, describing the sound as “the sound of war.”
Demining operations have enabled many residents to return to their homes, though certain zones remain closed. Roughly 180 houses in the area were destroyed in the wildfire.
The munitions found were both German and French, including mortar shells and anti‑tank shells, French media reported.
The discovery came after the far‑reaching fire ravaged the Gironde area, which had burned for about ten days, making it one of the largest forest fires in Europe since World War Two.
In a statement on Instagram, Mayor Zaninetti noted that access to the ocean, a campsite and the village of La Jenny remained off limits.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised the firefighters, saying France had “stood firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis,” and that the evacuation effort was now in a “new phase” with people gradually returning to their homes.
