Repetitive lights on election night in Saint-Macaire

Summary

Four times at roughly ten-minute intervals, witnesses in Saint-Macaire saw the same sequence on the night of May 10, 1981: a red ball descended slowly, appeared to burst, and from a luminous triangle an intense light flooded the area, followed by dense white fog at ground level. The display was striking, but GEIPAN's investigation concluded it was illumination flares launched during the celebration of election results. The repeating pattern and festive context fitted that explanation perfectly.