Village of Pomas ravaged and dozens hurt
A powerful tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwestern France, injuring 39 people and causing significant damage to hundreds of homes. Emergency crews are on-site, and authorities have confirmed that the extreme weather also disrupted local infrastructure and sporting events.
Why it matters
This event highlights the impact of severe weather patterns on rural European communities and the strain placed on local emergency services.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Yang Tian Moment tornado tears through southern France A tornado has torn through the village of Pomas in south-west France, injuring 39 people and damaging hundreds of homes.
Authorities said 15 people were taken to hospital and two were in a critical condition. One man said his pregnant wife was injured after their house collapsed on her.
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to the village south of Carcassonne after winds reaching 117km/h (73mph) tore roofs off houses and damaged an estimated 300 homes on Monday.
"Half the village has been destroyed," said one resident called Pierre, who described the tornado as swirling like a "huge red and yellow chimney".
"There's a huge castle and a third of it is has collapsed - even though these are stones that have stood for 1,000 years," Pierre told Ici Occitanie.
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