Rare French Tornado Leaves 39 Injured, Homes Devastated

A rare and violent tornado struck the village of Pomas in southern France on Monday evening, resulting in 39 injuries, two of which were critical. The powerful storm caused significant damage, impacting approximately 300 homes and leading to widespread power outages affecting thousands of households across the region.

Emergency services, including 75 firefighters and specialist reinforcements, were deployed to conduct rescue operations and assess the damage. Residents displaced from their homes were offered temporary shelter. The tornado, described as exceptionally intense for France, was estimated to have sustained wind speeds of over 200 kph, potentially classifying it as an EF2 or EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

While tornadoes are not uncommon in France, occurring a few dozen times annually, they are typically of lower intensity. The rarity and severity of this event underscore the significant impact it had on the community.