'Traumatic' tornado shatters French village
Pomas (France) (AFP) – Two people were in critical condition and thousands of households were without power on Tuesday after a "tornado of severe intensity" wreaked havoc in southern France, officials said.
Issued on: 25/08/2026 - FRANCE24
Pomas (France) (AFP) – Two people were in critical condition and thousands of households were without power on Tuesday after a "tornado of severe intensity" wreaked havoc in southern France, officials said.
Issued on: 25/08/2026 - FRANCE24
The tornado hit hardest the village of Pomas © Idriss Bigou-Gilles / AFP
The tornado, which swept through the Aude department on Monday, hit the village of Pomas hardest, damaging around 300 homes and injuring 39 people, two severely.
Seventeen people were hospitalised, officials said.
By early Tuesday, 7,250 household across the Languedoc-Roussillon region were without power including 1,600 in Aude, said grid operator Enedis.
"A tornado of rare intensity struck Aude late yesterday afternoon, severely damaging the village of Pomas," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X.
Marie-Helene Bouissac, the regional deputy prefect, said the tornado was "an exceptional and highly traumatic event".
On Tuesday, under clear skies, roofs ripped apart by the storm had already been covered with blue and green plastic tarpaulins, an AFP journalist saw.
The tornado, which swept through the Aude department on Monday, hit the village of Pomas hardest, damaging around 300 homes and injuring 39 people, two severely.
Seventeen people were hospitalised, officials said.
By early Tuesday, 7,250 household across the Languedoc-Roussillon region were without power including 1,600 in Aude, said grid operator Enedis.
"A tornado of rare intensity struck Aude late yesterday afternoon, severely damaging the village of Pomas," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X.
Marie-Helene Bouissac, the regional deputy prefect, said the tornado was "an exceptional and highly traumatic event".
On Tuesday, under clear skies, roofs ripped apart by the storm had already been covered with blue and green plastic tarpaulins, an AFP journalist saw.
France sees several dozen tornadoes of varying intensity each year
© Idriss Bigou-Gilles / AFP
Nearby fields were littered with broken deckchairs, scraps of fiberglass insulation and pieces of wire fencing ripped apart by the fierce winds that struck the village and its surroundings.
Firefighters, including a canine search unit, inspected the site.
Emergency crews had worked throughout the night.
"Search and inspection operations are still under way, involving 75 firefighters supported by specialist reinforcement teams," the prefecture said.
At a police checkpoint, relatives and friends of those affected waited for permission to enter the affected area, bringing supplies or offering assistance.
Jose Gomes, a resident of the nearby village of Trebes, said a friend's house had collapsed.
France sees several dozen tornadoes of varying intensity each year, according to weather agency Meteo-France.
© 2026 AFP
Nearby fields were littered with broken deckchairs, scraps of fiberglass insulation and pieces of wire fencing ripped apart by the fierce winds that struck the village and its surroundings.
Firefighters, including a canine search unit, inspected the site.
Emergency crews had worked throughout the night.
"Search and inspection operations are still under way, involving 75 firefighters supported by specialist reinforcement teams," the prefecture said.
At a police checkpoint, relatives and friends of those affected waited for permission to enter the affected area, bringing supplies or offering assistance.
Jose Gomes, a resident of the nearby village of Trebes, said a friend's house had collapsed.
France sees several dozen tornadoes of varying intensity each year, according to weather agency Meteo-France.
© 2026 AFP
A tornado tore through the southwestern French village of Pomas on Monday, injuring 41 people and damaging about 300 homes, authorities said. The storm ripped roofs from buildings as severe weather battered the region, causing power outages, transport disruption and forcing officials to cancel a Vuelta a Espana cycling stage.
Issued on: 25/08/2026 -
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By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Morgan AYRE
Cover image: The tornado damaged 300 homes in the village of Pomas, in southwestern France, authorities said © Idriss Bigou-Gilles, AFP
01:04
A tornado tore through a village in southwestern France on Monday, injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, authorities said.
French authorities had placed swathes of the country's southwest on orange alert for storms, and numerous areas were hit by power outages and transport chaos.
In the Aude department, officials cancelled the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race, which was being held in the area, when a hailstorm forced riders to seek shelter.
The tornado hit hardest in the village of Pomas – which has a population 1,000 – damaging an estimated 300 homes and in some cases ripping their roofs off.
France: Residents in shock after mini tornado hits north of Paris
01:04
A tornado tore through a village in southwestern France on Monday, injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, authorities said.
French authorities had placed swathes of the country's southwest on orange alert for storms, and numerous areas were hit by power outages and transport chaos.
In the Aude department, officials cancelled the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race, which was being held in the area, when a hailstorm forced riders to seek shelter.
The tornado hit hardest in the village of Pomas – which has a population 1,000 – damaging an estimated 300 homes and in some cases ripping their roofs off.
France: Residents in shock after mini tornado hits north of Paris
© France24
00:43
00:43
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to the scene, local authorities said.
Fifteen of the injured were taken to hospital. They included a pregnant woman who was hurt when her house collapsed on her, the woman's husband told AFP.
The national weather service, Meteo-France, said winds had reached up to 117 kilometres (73 miles) per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val.
Storms across southern France upended the transportation network, delaying trains, forcing road closures, and causing delays and cancellations at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and even Paris to the north, said Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
Cover image: © France 24
01:50
01:50
An estimated 2,800 homes were left without electricity across 10 villages, officials said.
France sees several dozen tornadoes on average per year.
The impact of global warming on their frequency and intensity is unclear, according to Meteo-France.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
French village reels from tornado that damaged hundreds of homes
Hundreds of damaged homes, widespread power cuts and blocked roads confronted residents of southwestern France on Tuesday after a tornado tore through the village of Pomas, injuring 39 people, two of them critically.
Hundreds of damaged homes, widespread power cuts and blocked roads confronted residents of southwestern France on Tuesday after a tornado tore through the village of Pomas, injuring 39 people, two of them critically.
Issued on: 25/08/2026 - RFI
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This video grab taken from Villefloure, shows a tornado hitting Pomas, southwestern France, on 24 August 2026. AFP - CYRILLE KALDOR / UGC / AFP
The tornado struck Pomas, a village of around 1,000 people in the Aude department, on Monday afternoon, damaging an estimated 300 homes and ripping roofs from some buildings.
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to the scene. Fifteen of the injured were taken to hospital.
They included a pregnant woman who was hurt when her house collapsed on her, her husband told French news agency AFP.
The tornado struck Pomas, a village of around 1,000 people in the Aude department, on Monday afternoon, damaging an estimated 300 homes and ripping roofs from some buildings.
More than 120 emergency workers were deployed to the scene. Fifteen of the injured were taken to hospital.
They included a pregnant woman who was hurt when her house collapsed on her, her husband told French news agency AFP.
A large tornado moves through Verzeille, France, 24 August 2026, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. DENIS MARECHAL via REUTERS - DENIS MARECHAL
Extensive damage
"There are no roof tiles left, no roofs at all," Pomas resident Fabien told Franceinfo. "Houses with an upper floor have lost it. I wouldn't even know how to describe it to you; it’s just so hard to believe."
"Half the village is destroyed," Pierre, a resident of the neighbouring town of Rouffiac, told public broadcaster ICI Occitanie. "I was driving back from Carcassonne and saw what looked like a huge chimney, with debris flying through the air – it was an incredible sight."
France's national weather service, Météo-France, said winds had reached up to 117 kilometres per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val.
Officials cancelled the third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, which was being held in the area, after a hailstorm forced riders to seek shelter.
"There are no roof tiles left, no roofs at all," Pomas resident Fabien told Franceinfo. "Houses with an upper floor have lost it. I wouldn't even know how to describe it to you; it’s just so hard to believe."
"Half the village is destroyed," Pierre, a resident of the neighbouring town of Rouffiac, told public broadcaster ICI Occitanie. "I was driving back from Carcassonne and saw what looked like a huge chimney, with debris flying through the air – it was an incredible sight."
France's national weather service, Météo-France, said winds had reached up to 117 kilometres per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val.
Officials cancelled the third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, which was being held in the area, after a hailstorm forced riders to seek shelter.
Transport chaos
Storms across southern France disrupted transport, delaying trains, forcing road closures and causing delays and cancellations at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Paris, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said.
Around 1,400 households were still without electricity on Tuesday morning.
Several departmental roads in Aude also remained closed because of fallen trees, with the prefecture urging motorists to check for updates.
France sees several dozen tornadoes a year on average. The impact of global warming on their frequency and intensity remains unclear, Météo-France said.
(with newswires)
Storms across southern France disrupted transport, delaying trains, forcing road closures and causing delays and cancellations at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Paris, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said.
Around 1,400 households were still without electricity on Tuesday morning.
Several departmental roads in Aude also remained closed because of fallen trees, with the prefecture urging motorists to check for updates.
France sees several dozen tornadoes a year on average. The impact of global warming on their frequency and intensity remains unclear, Météo-France said.
(with newswires)
Shock following 'traumatic' tornado in the south of France
25.08.2026, dpa
People in the southern French commune of Pomas are in a state of shock after a tornado tore through the community, damaging buildings and injuring dozens.
"You'd think we'd been bombed," resident Bruno told the broadcaster BFMTV on Tuesday. "Everything needs to be rebuilt; everything is destroyed."
Around 300 houses in Pomas, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, were damaged by the storm. Of the 39 people hurt, 17 were taken to hospital and two suffered serious injuries.
Marie-Hélène Bouissac from the Aude prefecture described it as "an extraordinary event that has been deeply traumatic for all residents."
The tornado struck late on Monday afternoon. "It came so quickly, we couldn't do anything," resident Amandine told BFMTV. She said she saw objects flying around and sought shelter.
The most intense part of the storm lasted only a few minutes. "I went back outside. It was chaos," she said through her tears.
"There are no more bricks, no more roofs. The houses that had an upper storey have lost it," resident Fabien told France Info.
The full extent of the damage in Pomas is not yet clear. Emergency services are still on-site, inspecting the houses. They are also inspecting buildings that do not appear to have been affected at first glance.
Residents have been asked to leave their homes until the situation is clear, says Bouissac.
Around 1,400 homes in the area were still without electricity following the storm. There was also disruption to air travel, road traffic and train services due to the storm the previous day.
(c) 2026 dpa Deutsche Presse Agentur GmbH
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