Wildfires Uncover Hundreds of WWII Shells in France

Heat from a raging blaze in southern France exposed over 400 unexploded munitions hidden beneath the village of Le Porge.

The fire ignited a series of explosions that locals described as “the sound of war.” Some of the blasts were faint echoes of old World War II shells that had long been buried throughout the forested area.

A mayor told French media that more than 100 detonations were heard during the second night of the fire, pointing to buried ammunition depots that were unknown to residents.

The crisis forced the destruction of over 180 homes and left many villages off‑limits while sanders and de‑mining teams fight to clear the area.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised firefighters for their work and noted that France is “standing firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis.”