Bomb disposal underway near Bordeaux as wildfires unearth WWII shells

Bomb disposal teams are continuing operations in Le Porge after the Gironde wildfire exposed unexploded Second World War ordnance, delaying residents' return to the village.

Teams are removing surface munitions to eliminate immediate hazards and allow residents to return home. The shells, which remain filled with explosives, include French and German mortar rounds and 5-centimetre armour-piercing shells.

The munitions will be destroyed on Civil Protection land when weather conditions permit, to avoid starting another wildfire. Several shells detonated in the heat of the wildfire, prompting authorities to establish a safety perimeter until the area cooled. The current operation is limited to removing visible surface hazards, with a more extensive clearance planned for a later stage.