A forest fire in the south of France has revealed a cache of 400 historic shells and munitions in the village of Le Porge, according to local authorities.

Blasts, initially thought to be exploding gas cylinders, may have been World War Two explosives detonated by the heat of the fires, the local fire commander told local media.

More than 100 explosions were heard on the second night of the fire, Mayor Martial Zaninetti told French news outlet France Info, likening it to “the sound of war”.

Demining operations have now seen most residents return to their homes, however the mayor has said certain areas are still off-limits. More than 180 houses in the area were destroyed by the wildfire.

“There were ammunition depots buried in land within our municipality, but we didn’t know it, and they exploded”, Zaninetti told France Info.

He described them going “to the right, to the left” and that there was “even one that went through a house”.