Small French town 'bombed by nature' as tornado barrels through

A rare tornado devastated the small French village of Pomas, causing widespread destruction and injuring 37 people, including two severely. Mayor Herve Gine described the aftermath as resembling a wartime situation, stating, "We were bombed by nature." The tornado, of rare intensity, hit Pomas late Monday afternoon, damaging homes, uprooting trees, and tearing off roofs.

Thirty-nine people were injured, with 17 hospitalized, while the mayor estimated that several dozen lives could have been lost. The village's nursery school, town hall, and many homes were destroyed, leaving residents in shock and many without shelter. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and regional deputy prefect Marie-Helene Bouissac described the event as exceptional and highly traumatic.

The village's narrow streets were filled with debris, and emergency crews worked overnight to search for victims. As of early Tuesday, 7,250 households across the Languedoc-Roussillon region were without power. Firefighters and canine units continued to search the affected area, with some locals temporarily housed in a community hall.

The incident highlights the impact of global warming on weather conditions, with France experiencing several heatwaves and a record number of tornadoes this summer.