A tornado tears through a village in southern France, injuring 39 and wrecking 300 homes

A tornado tears through a village in southern France, injuring 39 and wrecking 300 homes  Toronto Star

An uncommonly powerful tornado destroyed dozens of homes and knocked out power to about 2,800 households.

More than 1,400 households were still without electricity on Tuesday morning.

Gusts of up to 117km per hour were recorded, with dramatic footage showing the rare tornado on the move

A village in the south of France has been hit by a tornado causing significant damage in the village of Pomas. It injured 41 and affected about 300 homes. The region was under thunderstorm alert. Scientists say climate change is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events.

A tornado has ravaged a small village in southern France, leaving dozens injured

A tornado tears through a village in southern France, injuring 39 and wrecking 300 homes  AP News

Tornado rips through French village  CNN

A tornado tears through Pomas in southern France, damaging homes and roofs and injuring 31 people as severe storms hit the Aude region.

The tornado hit hardest in the village of Pomas, population 1,000, damaging an estimated 300 homes.

Houses damaged after tornado hits Aude in southern France  Reuters

The tornado has injured more than 40 people and destroyed homes in villages.

More than 120 emergency responders were sent to the affected area to assist with rescue and recovery efforts and15 people were taken to hospitals for treatment.

French authorities had placed swathes of the country's southwest on orange alert for storms. Meteo-France said winds had reached up to 117 kilometers (73 miles) per hour.

French authorities had placed swathes of the country's southwest on orange alert for storms. Meteo-France said winds had reached up to 117 kilometers (73 miles) per hour.

Homes were reportedly destroyed near Carcassonne as severe storms brought damaging winds, large hail and torrential rain to the Aude department.

The event, particularly rare for the European country, struck this afternoon.