Wildfires raging across the southwest of France have exposed a hidden cache of 400 World War Two weaponry buried beneath the village of Le Porge.
Until the blaze pushed through forested hills, local authorities were unaware that the area had once been an ammunition depot. The heat triggered what the fire commander described as “a barrage of explosions” that most sounded like gas cylinders but were actually old munitions detonating.
Mayor Martial Zaninetti told the local press that explosions rang out over a 24‑hour period, saying, “the sound of war.” The fire destroyed more than 180 houses and left several neighbourhoods off‑limits while de‑mining teams work to clear the hazardous sites.
Investigations revealed the shells inventory comprised both German and French weaponry – mortar shells, anti‑tank rounds and other munitions – some of which even lodged in a dwelling during the outbreak.
After the fire the mayor warned residents that access to the ocean, a campsite and the village of La Jenny remained restricted until the area is declared safe.
National authorities praised firefighters, noting that the crisis enters a new phase as evacuated residents gradually return and the region recovers.
With more than 330,000 people displaced across Spain and France in the past two weeks, Le Porge sits among the worst‑hit areas, where two of the largest forest fires since the war have scorched 42,000 hectares.
