PARIS, Aug. 25 — A rare and highly destructive tornado tore through villages in southern France, injuring at least 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, according to latest assessments from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and local authorities.
The extreme weather event struck the Aude department in the Occitanie region, with the village of Pomas bearing the brunt of the devastation. Witnesses captured dramatic footage of the twister ripping roofs off buildings, toppling trees, and hurling debris as it swept through the area.
According to updated figures from regional officials and AFP, at least 41 people were injured, with 15 requiring hospitalization for trauma and related injuries. While initial emergency briefings reported around 100 damaged structures, subsequent comprehensive damage assessments indicate that approximately 300 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, around 2,800 households were left without electricity across 10 villages.
The broader extreme weather system, which also brought torrential rain and massive hailstones alongside the tornado, forced the abrupt cancellation of the third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, which was scheduled to pass through the affected zone.
Meteorologists note that while France experiences occasional severe thunderstorms, a tornado of this intensity in the southern region is highly unusual. Emergency services, alongside utility crews, are currently on the ground conducting search and rescue operations, clearing blocked roads, and working to restore power to the affected communities.