Wildfires in France Uncover 400 WWII Shells, Triggering Blasts

WHO:

CNN - French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “The situation we are dealing with today is the most severe we have ever recorded, the toughest since the Second World War.”

CNN - Commandant Philippe Delemotte is the head of the Bordeaux bomb disposal unit.

CBS News World - The munitions consist of both German and French explosives.

WHAT:

CNN - More than 400 World War II shells and munitions were discovered in the village of Le Porge.

CNN - A bomb disposal operation was carried out, recovering more than 400 shells and munitions.

CNN - Explosions were heard near the village as the munitions were detonated.

CNN - The wildfires in France have burned more than 160,000 hectares (about 617 square miles), making them the largest on record for the country.

CBS News World - The munitions consist mainly of mortar shells, along with some high-explosive anti-tank shells.

WHERE:

CNN - The discoveries were made in the village of Le Porge, located in the Gironde region of France.

CNN - The fires are still active in nearby coastal areas but remain “contained.”

WHEN:

CNN - The majority of the village’s 3,500 residents were forced to flee their homes as the flames approached in July.

CNN - A safety assessment was conducted, and residents were authorized to return to affected neighborhoods on Monday.

WHY:

CNN - The heat caused several of the buried shells to explode, alerting authorities to their location.

CNN - The discovery of unexploded munitions is attributed to historic demolition pits from World War II.

HOW:

CNN - Authorities established an exclusion zone due to the risk to the public from potential explosions.

CNN - Commandant Philippe Delemotte reported that they found a field and removed 75 shells during the operation.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 15:30 UTC)

In a significant development, French President Macron has declared that the current situation is the most severe since World War II, as authorities in the village of Le Porge discovered over 400 World War II shells and munitions, prompting a bomb disposal operation led by Commandant Philippe Delemotte. The munitions, which include both German and French explosives, were unearthed due to heat causing several buried shells to explode, leading to the establishment of an exclusion zone for public safety. Meanwhile, wildfires in France have burned more than 160,000 hectares, making this the largest wildfire event on record for the country, although the fires remain contained in nearby coastal areas.