Explosions Heard as More Than 400 WWII Shells Found in Village at Center of France Wildfire Crisis

Explosions were heard near Le Porge, a village in France’s Gironde region hit hard by the wildfire crisis, as residents began returning to areas devastated by last month’s blazes. Local authorities said a bomb disposal operation recovered more than 400 WWII shells and munitions. The blasts were first suspected to be gas or other accidents, but specialists believe heat from the fires caused buried ordnance to detonate. Most residents have been allowed back after safety assessments, though some zones remain off-limits due to ongoing risks.