Tornado tears through southern France, destroying homes
A rare tornado has torn through the village of Pomas in southern France, damaging hundreds of homes and injuring dozens.
The update
A rare tornado has struck the village of Pomas in southern France, damaging hundreds of homes and injuring dozens of people. Winds reached 117km/h (73mph), tearing roofs off houses and leaving an estimated 300 homes damaged. Local authorities report that 15 people were taken to hospital, with two in critical condition. The storm also knocked out power to about 2,800 households across 10 villages.
Why it matters
While tornadoes are more common in the United States, this event is considered rare for southern France. The extreme weather has disrupted local infrastructure and forced the cancellation of a stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race. Emergency services have deployed over 120 workers to the area to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
What to watch
Authorities have not reported any missing persons. Casualty counts may change as search and rescue operations continue. Meteorologists are still analyzing the storm to determine its classification and whether it fits into broader climate patterns in the region.
Sources
- bbc.co.uk — Details on the village of Pomas, number of injured, wind speed, and power outages.
- nytimes.com — Confirmation of the event and scale of damage.
- bbc.co.uk — Details on the village of Pomas, number of injured, wind speed, and power outages.