Tornado tears through village in south-west France: More than 40 injured and 300 homes damaged
A powerful tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwestern France, causing 41 injuries and damaging approximately 300 homes. Emergency services are currently securing the area while local infrastructure, including power and transportation, faces significant disruptions.
Why it matters
The event highlights the impact of extreme weather on local communities and the ongoing challenges of disaster response in rural regions.
A tornado tore through a village in southwestern France on Monday (24 August), injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes.The tornado hit hardest in the village of Pomas, population 1,000, located between Carcassonne and Limoux. It damaged an estimated 300 homes, in some cases ripping their roofs off."More than 120 firefighters are on the scene" and reinforcements from neighbouring departments are expected, according to the prefecture of the Aude department, which added that "operations to secure buildings are under way".The injured include a pregnant woman who was hurt when her house collapsed on her, her husband told AFP.Videos posted on social media show a powerful vortex of wind moving through several communities in the department beneath stormy skies.The national weather service, Meteo-France, said winds had reached up to 117 kilometres (73 miles)…
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