Wildfire in France triggers explosions at buried WWII ammunition depot

A forest fire in southwestern France triggered the detonation of dozens of World War II-era shells buried in an abandoned underground ammunition depot, authorities said.

The incident occurred in the commune of Le Porge in the Gironde department, where firefighters responding to the blaze were confronted with a series of powerful explosions, Caliber.Az reports per French media. 

Le Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti said local authorities had been unaware of the existence of the underground ammunition storage site before the fire reached the area.

"At first we thought gas cylinders were exploding, but the roar was too powerful. It was shells exploding," Zaninetti said.

According to the mayor, more than 100 explosions were heard as the fire ignited the decades-old munitions. Some shells remained on the ground, while others were scattered across the surrounding area. One shell struck and pierced a residential building.

No injuries were reported.

Authorities said bomb disposal specialists later secured the site after completing clearance operations, and the area has since been declared safe.

By Sabina Mammadli