A bomb disposal operation was carried out this weekend on a beach in Lège-Cap-Ferret, Gironde, after the discovery of 39 shells dating from the Second World War. The projectiles appeared following the collapse of a bunker weakened by dune erosion.
The munitions, French 75mm Model 1917 shells, could have been stored there by the German army during the Occupation. Alerted, the authorities mobilized the bomb disposal diving team from Brest to secure the area and neutralize them.
An area still under surveillance
Due to the high tides, the operations had to be carried out in two phases, as some of the equipment was submerged at high tide. The majority of the shells were destroyed on site, with the remaining ones being dealt with immediately afterward.
The maritime prefecture reiterates that, despite their age, these munitions remain dangerous and require specialized handling. Further investigations are underway, as the presence of other explosives cannot be ruled out in this area, which is exposed to increasing erosion.
