A rare and powerful tornado swept through France’s southwestern Aude region late Monday, causing significant destruction and injuring 39 people, according to local authorities.
Two of those injured are reportedly in critical condition in the village of Pomas, while more than 300 homes across the affected area have suffered damage. Windows were shattered and buildings were left with substantial structural damage as the storm moved through several communities.
The severe weather also caused widespread power outages. By Tuesday morning, approximately 21,000 households across southern France were without electricity, including around 1,600 in the Aude region, according to network operator Enedis.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the event as a tornado of “rare intensity”, saying it caused particularly serious damage in Pomas.
Videos circulating online and verified by Reuters showed the tornado forming near the village of Verzeille, with debris being swept into the air as the storm moved across the area.
The tornado struck as France’s prolonged summer heatwave began giving way to increasingly severe thunderstorms across parts of the south.
Emergency services and local authorities remain on the ground, assessing the full extent of the damage, assisting residents and working to restore electricity in the affected communities.
