In brief
Wildfires in the south‑west of France revealed a hidden cache of 400 WWII shells in Le Porge, stirring panicked residents and emergency crews. Heat from the blaze triggered a series of explosions that sounded like war. More than 180 homes were lost, but de‑mining teams are now allowing residents to return to cleared areas, though certain zones remain off‑limits. French officials are monitoring the situation while considering larger fire‑fighting resources.
Wildfires in France Uncover 400 WWII Explosives in Le Porge
On Sunday, a day‑long blaze in southern France’s Gironde region erupted into catastrophe when flames exposed a buried cache of more than 400 World War Two shells in the village of Le Porge, local authorities reported.
The heat of the wildfire ignited the munitions, giving rise to a series of explosions that the community compared to the “sound of war.” Over 100 blasts were heard on the second night of the fire, according to Mayor Martial Zaninetti, who told France Info.
Hundreds of residents escaped the flames to a new phase of “demining operations,” the mayor announced, noting that while most houses have been cleared for return, certain zones—especially the ocean access, a nearby campsite and the village of La Jenny—remain off‑limits.
The discovery of these munitions—comprising anti‑tank, mortar, and both German and French shells—was made after a 10‑day forest blaze that scorched 42,000 hectares, making it one of the largest fires in France since World War Two.
The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, praised firefighters for their efforts and urged that “France has stood firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis,” highlighting that the nation is gradually moving toward recovery.
