France Wildfires Uncover 400 WWII Shells in Gironde Village

A devastating forest fire in southwestern France's Gironde region uncovered a hidden stockpile of some 400 World War Two shells and munitions buried beneath the village of Le Porge, local authorities confirmed.

Blasts initially mistaken for exploding gas cylinders were in fact historic wartime explosives detonating in the heat of the fire. The local fire commander reported that over 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the blaze alone. Mayor Martial Zaninetti described the sound as "the sound of war."

German and French Munitions Both Found

The discovered munitions included both German and French weapons — mortar shells and anti-tank rounds. "There were ammunition depots buried in land within our municipality, but we didn't know it, and they exploded," Mayor Zaninetti told France Info. He described shells flying "to the right, to the left" and added that "even one went through a house."

Demining operations have since allowed most residents to return home, though access to the oceanfront, a campsite and the village of La Jenny remains restricted. More than 180 houses in Le Porge were destroyed in the fire.

Unprecedented Crisis Across Europe

The wildfire ravaged the Gironde area for approximately ten days before being brought under control. French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu praised firefighters and said France had "stood firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis." Across France and Spain, wildfires in the past two weeks have forced the evacuation of more than 330,000 people.