Heat from massive wildfires in southwestern France ignited decades-old World War II munitions buried underground near the village of Le Porge, causing over 100 loud explosions as the blazes swept through the region, according to French authorities.
Local officials reported that civil protection specialists recovered around 400 historic shells and pieces of ammunition during demining operations following the intense heatwave and fire outbreak. Fire Commander Thomas Mimiague confirmed to local media that initial blasts—originally thought to be exploding household gas cylinders—were actually abandoned German and French mortar rounds and high-explosive anti-tank shells detonating from the intense ground heat.
Le Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti told news outlet France Info that more than 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the fire, likening the series of detonations to "the sound of war." Zaninetti added that buried ammunition depots exploded unpredictably across the terrain, with flying shrapnel striking buildings and passing through at least one residence.
According to regional emergency services, the wildfire destroyed more than 180 homes in Le Porge and forced the evacuation of most of its 3,500 residents before firefighters brought the 10-day blaze in the Gironde region under control. While demine teams cleared main residential neighborhoods to allow families to return, local authorities have kept surrounding beach accesses, campsites, and forested zones closed due to ongoing safety sweeps for unexploded ordnance.
French public safety agencies confirmed that no fatalities or serious injuries were reported directly from the ammunition explosions, though the broader wildfires across southern France burned nearly 100,000 acres during the extreme heat event.
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