In brief
A tornado tore through the village of Pomas in south‑west France, injuring 39 residents and causing extensive damage to around 300 homes. Authorities evacuated over 120 emergency workers to address the crisis, and 15 people were hospitalized, including a pregnant woman who suffered injuries after her house collapsed. The severe weather led to an orange alert for thunderstorms, widespread power outages affecting 2,800 homes, and cancelled flights across Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, and northern Paris, as well as the cancellation of the third stage of the Vuelta a España due to a hailstorm. The incident highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Europe following a summer of record heat and wildfires.
In the early hours on Monday, a sudden tornado swept through the small village of Pomas in the south‑west of France, leaving a trail of devastation and injuries.
Local authorities reported that 39 people were hurt, with 15 taken to hospital and two remaining in critical condition. A resident warned that a pregnant wife was injured when their house collapsed.
Forces of nature exploded across the region as winds peaked at 117 km/h (73 mph), raking roofs from bottles and tearing out doors. Roughly 300 homes suffered damage in the village alone, and an estimated 2,800 homes throughout ten villages lost electricity.
In nearby racing events, the Vuelta a España had to cancel its third stage after a hailstorm forced riders to seek safety close to the finish line.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed flight disruptions at Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and airports north of Paris, a tangible reminder of how weather can ripple through daily life.
Parisian meteorologists highlighted the region’s vulnerability, especially after a summer that saw 42,000 hectares burn in large fires and record heatwaves flooding the continent. France has typically seen dozens of tornadoes per year; however, this event is among the most severe in recent memory.
