France wildfires have uncovered a cache of around 400 historic shells and munitions in the village of Le Porge after a devastating forest fire swept through the area.
Local authorities said explosions heard during the fire, initially believed to be gas cylinders, were likely caused by World War Two explosives detonating in the intense heat.
The discovery was made after the wildfire, which burned for around 10 days in the Gironde region, was brought under control.
Residents hear more than 100 explosions
Le Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti told French broadcaster France Info that more than 100 explosions were heard during the second night of the fire.
He described the scene as sounding “like war”, explaining that buried ammunition depots had been unknown to local authorities.
“There were ammunition depots buried in land within our municipality, but we didn’t know it, and they exploded,” he said.
Mr Zaninetti added that some of the shells were propelled in different directions, with one reportedly passing through a house.
Demining operations continue
Demining teams have since secured much of the area, allowing most residents to return to their homes.
However, some locations remain closed to the public, including access to the coastline, a campsite and the village of La Jenny.
French media reported that the cache included both German and French World War Two-era mortar rounds and anti-tank shells.
More than 180 homes destroyed
The wildfire destroyed more than 180 homes in Le Porge, with images showing residents returning to inspect the remains of their properties.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu thanked firefighters for their efforts, saying France had “stood firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis”.
He said the emergency response in the Gironde region had entered a new phase, with evacuated residents gradually returning home.
Fires devastate parts of Europe
Wildfires have swept across several parts of Europe over the past two weeks, particularly affecting France and Spain, where more than 330,000 people were evacuated.
France was among the hardest-hit countries, with around 42,000 hectares of land burned in the south-west, making it one of the country’s largest forest fires since the Second World War.
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