Hundreds of World War II shells and munitions have been discovered in the French village of Le Porge, as residents return to the ravaged community in the wake of last month’s blazes, according to local authorities.
Explosions were heard near the village in France’s Gironde region following the devastating fires, which swept through the country’s southwest.
“A bomb disposal operation was carried out today with Civil Protection specialists, recovering more than 400 shells and munitions,” a press release from the local authority said Monday.
As the flames approached the community in July, the majority of the village’s 3,500 residents were forced to flee their homes, as hundreds of firefighters were deployed to tackle blazes more violent and unpredictable than in previous years.
Europe has always experienced wildfires, but scientists are clear that climate change is making them increasingly extreme. The fires in France have so far burned more than 160,000 hectares (about 617 square miles), making them the largest on record for the country.
