More than 400 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. The village, located in France’s Gironde region, was heavily affected by the devastating fires that swept through the country’s southwest.

Discovery of Munitions

A bomb disposal operation was carried out with Civil Protection specialists, recovering the shells and munitions. Commandant Philippe Delemotte, head of the Bordeaux bomb disposal unit, stated that the heat caused several of the buried shells to explode, alerting authorities to their location.

Residents were forced to flee their homes as hundreds of firefighters were deployed to tackle the blazes. The fires in France have so far burned more than 160,000 hectares, making them the largest on record for the country. French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation as the most severe the country has ever recorded.

Return to Normalcy

On Monday, Gironde region’s prefect Sophie Brocas authorized residents to return to affected neighborhoods after a safety assessment was conducted. Fires are still active in nearby coastal areas but remain contained, according to officials.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.