Tornado strikes southern France! 40 injured as thousands of homes lose power
Powerful storms brought disruption to southern France as a tornado swept through parts of the Aude department, south of Carcassonne. Homes, infrastructure and vegetation were damaged, dozens of people were injured and thousands of households were left without power.
Tornado formed during a supercell storm
The tornado developed amid a powerful supercell thunderstorm affecting the area. Videos recorded near the village of Verzeille showed the funnel forming beneath a rotating cloud before moving across the region. According to local reports, the tornado struck the area around Pomas at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time.
Homes and infrastructure damaged
Strong winds caused significant damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. Parts of some structures were destroyed, while trees and other vegetation were also heavily damaged as the storm moved through the area. Footage shared on social media showed objects being blown through the air by the intense winds.
At least 40 people injured
French authorities said at least 40 people were injured during the severe weather. Further details about the condition of those injured were not immediately available.
Around 2,800 households left without electricity
The storm also caused major disruption to the electricity network. Approximately 2,800 households remained without power as repair crews worked to restore electricity in the affected areas.
Weather warnings had been issued
French meteorological authorities had previously warned of severe storms in the Aude department, where atmospheric conditions were favorable for intense thunderstorms. Authorities are continuing to assess the damage while repair teams work to restore electricity across the affected communities.
Source: NationalTurk
