World News
Rare tornado strikes southern France, damaging hundreds of homes in Pomas
The storm injured 39 people and disrupted power across thousands of households in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
The short version
- A severe tornado devastated the village of Pomas in the Aude department of southern France, destroying local infrastructure and causing 39 injuries.
- The mayor reported that roughly 300 of the village's 476 homes were damaged, along with the local nursery school and town hall.
- Power operator Enedis reported thousands of electricity outages across the region, while emergency crews conducted search operations.
- Scientists note that the overall impact of global warming on tornado frequency and intensity remains uncertain.
Key facts
- A rare tornado struck the Aude department in southern France, heavily damaging the village of Pomas.[France 24]
- Thirty-nine people were injured in the storm, including two severely, and 17 required hospitalization.[France 24]
- Pomas Mayor Herve Gine estimated that approximately 300 of the village's 476 homes sustained damage.[France 24]
- Grid operator Enedis stated that 7,250 households in the Languedoc-Roussillon region experienced power outages, including 1,600 in Aude.[France 24]
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez characterized the tornado as being of rare intensity.[France 24]
- Seventy-five firefighters and specialized canine search units were deployed for search and inspection operations following the storm.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- International climate scientists note that the specific relationship between climate change and tornado frequency or intensity is not yet clear.[France 24]