A violent tornado slammed into the medieval French village of Pomas on Monday, ripping roofs from homes, sending debris flying, and leaving 39 people injured. Authorities say 15 were taken to hospital, two remain in critical condition, and one man heard his pregnant wife injured when their house collapsed.
The storm is the worst ever seen in the region, with wind speeds reaching 117 km/h (73 mph). Emergency workers—over 120 in total—were dispatched to the south‑of‑Carcassonne area, where the tornado tore roofs off buildings and damaged an estimated 300 homes.
Residents described the tornado as a swirling “huge red and yellow chimney”. Pierre, a local resident, compared it to a cyclone that brought down a stone castle tower, even though the stones had stood for a millennium.
The extreme weather extended beyond Pomas: the Vuelta a España stage was cancelled, flights were delayed or cancelled from major airports including Bordeaux and Marseille, and an orange alert was issued for thunderstorms across south‑west France.
Météo‑France noted that the country typically sees several dozen tornadoes per year, but the intensity of this event, combined with recent severe heatwaves and forest fires, has taken a toll on the region’s infrastructure and community life.
