Rare Tornado Tears Through Southern France Village, Injures 39 And Damages 300 Homes

A rare and powerful tornado tore through Pomas in southern France late Monday, injuring 39 people, including two critically, and damaging around 300 homes as severe thunderstorms swept across the region.

The tornado struck the village in the Aude region, near Carcassonne, leaving homes badly damaged, roofs ripped away and vehicles destroyed. Emergency teams continued rescue and assessment operations on Tuesday, although authorities said no missing people had been reported.

Local government official Marie-Hélène Bouissac confirmed that 39 people were injured, with 15 taken to hospital and two in critical condition. More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to deal with the destruction and clear debris from the affected areas.

Authorities opened emergency accommodation centres for residents whose homes were damaged or considered unsafe. Pomas, which has a population of around 1,000, was among the worst-hit areas. Nearby Verzeille was also affected, with footage verified by Reuters showing the tornado moving across the area and damaging homes.

The storm struck as southern France was emerging from an intense heatwave and facing severe thunderstorms. Wind gusts of more than 100 km/h were recorded, with speeds reaching about 117 km/h at a nearby station.

The extreme weather also caused widespread disruption. Around 1,400 households in Aude remained without electricity on Tuesday morning, while storms and hail disrupted transport and other activities. The third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race was halted because of severe weather and hail.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the tornado as being of “rare intensity”, while officials said the destruction had left residents deeply traumatised. France experiences several dozen tornadoes each year, but most are relatively weak compared with those frequently recorded in the United States, according to Meteo France.