Le Porge, France: WWII Shells Detonate Amid Wildfire

A cache of roughly one hundred World War II shells buried in the commune of Le Porge, Gironde, exploded when a severe wildfire swept the area in late July. The heat from the fire triggered detonations at several locations, some of which were reported to have crossed houses. No injuries were reported.

Mayor Martial Zaninetti initially thought the blasts were gas cylinders, but after hearing the powerful explosions he likened the sounds to "war noises." A French demining team was sent to the site to secure the area and remove any remaining ordnance.