Tornado devastates village in southwestern France’s Aude region

A tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwestern France on Monday, causing extensive damage and injuring around 40 people, officials reported. The small town, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, is home to approximately 1,000 residents. The strongest impact was felt in Pomas, where around 300 homes were destroyed, with trees uprooted and roofs torn off buildings.

Fifteen individuals were hospitalized, including a pregnant woman whose house collapsed during the storm. Over 120 firefighters and emergency personnel were dispatched to the area to aid in the cleanup process. Emergency shelters were established for those whose homes sustained damage.

According to Meteo-France, the storm generated winds of up to 117 kilometers per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val. French authorities had previously issued orange storm alerts for much of southern and southwestern France. The tornado left more than 2,800 households without electricity, with power cuts affecting several regions.

Transportation networks also suffered, with roads closed due to fallen trees, train delays, and flight disruptions at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, and Toulouse, along with Paris.

The third stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race, scheduled to take place in the Aude department, was canceled due to a hailstorm interrupting the event.