Deadly 'Mini-Tornado' Rips Through Paris Suburbs, Killing One

On October 20, 2025, a powerful "mini-tornado" struck the northern suburbs of Paris, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The extreme winds, which began just before 6 pm local time, affected about a dozen towns in the Val-d'Oise region.

The head of the prefecture, Philippe Court, has declared the event a "violent, sudden windy episode" and a "mini-tornado." The gusts were so strong that they tore off roofs and toppled three cranes, including one that fell on a center for disabled children and another on a house.

Tragically, a 23-year-old man was killed at a private construction site in Pontoise, a village about 30 km north of Paris. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death. Additionally, nine people were injured during the storm, four of whom are in critical condition.

While tornadoes are not uncommon in France, with 40 to 50 recorded each year, they typically fall in the two lowest categories of strength and rarely cause significant damage or loss of life. The last major tornado in the country occurred in 2008 in Hautmont, near the border with Belgium, and resulted in three fatalities.

The French government has deployed 150 firefighters, medical personnel, and police to the affected areas. Ermont, one of the hardest-hit villages, has opened a gymnasium to provide shelter for residents left without homes. More than 1,500 homes were left without power, and traffic was disrupted due to fallen trees on the roads.

The windy weather is expected to continue into October 21, with parts of the southwest of France set to see gales reaching 50-60 kilometers per hour.