A powerful tornado has torn through the village of Pomas in south-western France, leaving 39 people injured and causing extensive damage to about 300 homes.
The tornado struck the Aude region on Monday, with Pomas, a village near Carcassonne, bearing the brunt of the storm.
Authorities said 15 of the injured were taken to hospital. A pregnant woman was among those affected after her home partially collapsed during the storm.
Winds reaching about 117km/h ripped roofs from houses, uprooted trees, damaged vehicles and scattered debris across the community. One resident described the devastation as leaving “half the village” destroyed.
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to the area as rescue and recovery operations continued. Emergency shelters were also opened for residents whose homes were badly damaged.
The storm disrupted electricity and transportation across the region, leaving about 2,800 homes in 10 villages without power. Fallen trees and debris also blocked roads, while several airports experienced flight delays and cancellations.
The severe weather also forced the cancellation of the third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race after a hailstorm struck the area, forcing riders to seek shelter.
French authorities had issued an orange thunderstorm alert for large parts of the country’s south-west as the region experienced powerful storms, hail and strong winds.
According to France’s national weather service, Météo-France, the country experiences several dozen tornadoes each year.
