A severe drought in France's Vosges mountains has exposed a cache of World War II ordnance, with heat triggering at least one device to activate.
Firefighters responded Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ramonchamp after a cylindrical metal object emitting white, irritating smoke was found in a dried-up pond. The device, identified as an M15-type phosphorus grenade, had been set off by the heat. Bomb disposal experts destroyed the shell at a local quarry without incident or injury.
Between Aug. 10 and 13, authorities recorded three interventions for military devices emerging from receding water bodies across the Vosges. Gendarmerie officials warned the public not to touch any discovered objects and to contact local authorities immediately.