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WWII munitions exploded as wildfire raged in French village
🇫🇮 Finland /Disasters & Emergencies

WWII munitions exploded as wildfire raged in French village

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • World War II-era munitions exploded in a village in France's Gironde region due to a wildfire.
  • Most of the 3,500 residents of Le Porge were evacuated as the wildfire spread, leading to over a hundred explosions.
  • The mayor described the explosions as "sounds of war," and it was discovered that buried munitions, left by French and German forces, were detonating.

A wildfire in the Gironde region of southern France triggered explosions from World War II-era munitions, forcing the evacuation of most of the 3,500 residents of the village of Le Porge in late July. As the wildfire raged, locals faced an additional threat when the buried ordnance began to detonate.

sounds of war

— Martial ZaninettiLe Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti describing the explosions caused by detonating munitions.

France Info reported that over a hundred explosions were heard in the area. Le Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti described the sounds as "sounds of war." Initially, authorities suspected gas cylinders were exploding, but upon returning to the area, it was confirmed that the explosions originated from buried World War II munitions.

According to the mayor, villagers were unaware of the ammunition cache in their midst. Zaninetti told France Info that the munitions "flew in all directions, right, left, crisscrossing. One went through a house." Over 400 French and German munitions have been found in the area. Fire Chief Thomas Mimiague told AFP, "We don't really know why they are here. We suspect they were just abandoned."

They flew in all directions, right, left, crisscrossing. One went through a house.

— Martial ZaninettiLe Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti describing the scattering of munitions during the explosions.

The fire destroyed over 180 buildings in the village. On Monday, some residents were allowed to return to their homes. Fortunately, no villagers were injured in the fires or explosions.

We don't really know why they are here. We suspect they were just abandoned.

— Thomas MimiagueFire Chief Thomas Mimiague explaining the suspected origin of the World War II munitions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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