Forest fires in southern France have led to the discovery of around 400 historical shells and ammunition in the village of Le Porge, local authorities said.

The explosions during the fire, initially thought to be the detonation of gas cylinders, may have been caused by the heating of World War II-era shells, according to the local fire chief. Mayor Martial Zaninetti said more than 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the fire, comparing it to the "sounds of war."

Following demining, most residents returned to their homes, but the mayor noted that some areas remain closed. The fire destroyed more than 180 homes in the area.

"There were ammunition depots buried in our municipality that we didn't know existed, and they exploded," Zaninetti said.

According to him, the shells were flying "to the right, to the left," and one of them hit the house directly.

On Monday, the mayor announced on his social media page that access to the coast, campsite, and the village of La Genie remains restricted.

According to French media, the ammunition discovered included both German and French ammunition, including mortar and anti-tank shells.

The discovery was made after a wildfire devastated the Gironde region; it was brought under control after about 10 days. Photos from Le Porge taken on Monday show families clearing the charred remains of their homes.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu thanked firefighters on Monday, stating that "France has stood firm in the face of an unprecedented crisis." He noted that the fight against the fires in the Gironde region has entered a "new phase," with evacuated residents gradually returning home.

Fires raged across Europe for two weeks, primarily in France and Spain, where more than 330 thousand people were evacuated. France was one of the hardest-hit regions, with approximately 42 thousand hectares burned in the southwest of the country—one of the largest forest fires since World War II.