A tornado impacted the village of Pomas in south-western France, resulting in 39 people injured and extensive property damage across the region. Authorities reported that 15 of the injured were hospitalized, with two in critical condition. The tornado occurred on Monday with wind speeds reaching 117km/h, tearing roofs from structures and damaging an estimated 300 homes in the area.
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to respond to the disaster in the village located south of Carcassonne. Residents described significant devastation, with one describing the tornado as resembling a massive colored vortex. Historic structures in the area, including portions of a centuries-old castle, sustained severe damage. The storm also caused widespread power outages, leaving approximately 2,800 homes without electricity across 10 villages in the region.
The extreme weather event disrupted transportation and public events across south-western France. The third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race taking place in the Aude area was cancelled when hail forced participants to take shelter approximately 15km from the planned finish line. Multiple airports including Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, and Toulouse experienced flight delays and cancellations.
French authorities had issued an orange weather alert for thunderstorms in large parts of the country’s south-west prior to the event. According to Météo-France, France typically experiences several dozen tornadoes annually. The tornado struck a region already affected by recent extreme weather conditions, including significant wildfires and heatwaves that have impacted southern France throughout the period.
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