In France, a forest fire uncovered a cache of 400 shells from World War II
Kyiv • UNN
In the village of Le Porge in southern France, a forest fire revealed a cache of 400 old shells and ammunition from World War II. Local authorities closed some areas to visitors.
Forest fires in the south of France uncovered a cache of 400 old shells and ammunition in the village of Le Porge, according to local authorities, UNN reports citing the BBC.
Details
Explosions during the fires, initially thought to be gas cylinder blasts, may have been caused by World War II-era explosives detonating from high temperatures, a local fire brigade commander told local media.
Mayor Martial Zaninetti told French news agency France Info that more than 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the fire, comparing them to "sounds of war."
Thanks to demining, most residents have returned to their homes, but the mayor said some areas remain closed to visitors. More than 180 homes in the area were destroyed by the forest fire.
"Ammunition depots were buried on the territory of our municipality, but we did not know about them, and they exploded," Zaninetti told France Info.
He described how they flew "right, left," and that "one even pierced a house."
In an Instagram post on Monday, the mayor wrote that access to the ocean, the campsite, and the village of La Jenny remains closed.
According to French media, the discovered weapons were of both German and French origin and included mortar and anti-tank shells.
Their discovery came after a forest fire that devastated the Gironde area, which has now been brought under control after about 10 days of burning.
Photos from Le Porge on Monday show families sifting through the remains of their burned homes.