France tornado: Village of Pomas ravaged and dozens hurt
A violent tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwest France, injuring 39 people and destroying large parts of homes and infrastructure as emergency crews raced to search and assist. Winds up to 117 km/h tore roofs off houses and left about 2,800 homes without power across 10 villages, prompting a major response and travel disruptions, including flight delays at multiple airports. The disaster occurred amid an orange thunderstorm alert that hit the region, with residents describing extensive destruction and a sense that centuries-old structures were compromised. The event followed a broader heatwave and wildfires across Europe, underscoring a period of extreme weather and its cascading impacts. Observers anticipate ongoing assessments and recovery efforts as authorities manage aftershocks from the storm and restore services.
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The tornado hit the village of Pomas in the Aude department of southwest France, tearing roofs off homes and damaging an estimated 300 houses.
Authorities reported 39 injuries with 15 people hospitalised and two in critical condition; one resident described a pregnant partner being injured when their house collapsed.
Public safety officials deployed more than 120 emergency workers to the area as residents described significant destruction, including a third of a castle collapsing in the affected area.
Wind speeds reached 117 km/h (73 mph), and the disaster prompted large-scale power outages, leaving about 2,800 homes without electricity across 10 villages.
The third stage of the Vuelta a España had to be cancelled in the region due to a hail storm, forcing riders to seek shelter about 15 km from the finish.
France had issued an orange thunderstorm alert for the southwest, with accompanying disruptions to transport and ongoing investigations into the extent of the damage.
Flight delays and cancellations affected airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and regions north of Paris, reflecting broader travel impacts from the severe weather.