Huge tornado of ‘rare intensity’ tears through villages in southern France as over 300 homes damaged

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

A tornado swept through a village in the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, destroying homes and injuring 39 people, authorities said, describing it as a rare and traumatic event.

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

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.

The south-western village of Pomas was hardest hit, with hundreds of homes damaged and fifteen people taken to hospital.

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

Milo Pope | Live News reporter Published August 25, 2026 8:55am Updated August 25, 2026 8:55am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A tornado has ripped through a village in southern France, leaving 15 people in hospital. More than 120 emergency

PARIS, Aug 25 - A tornado swept through a village in the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, destroying homes and injuring 39 people, authorities said, describing it as a rare and traumatic event.

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.

A tornado tore through a village in southwestern France on Monday, injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, authorities said.

Houses damaged after tornado hits Aude in southern France  Reuters

Footage shows a rare tornado making its way through southern France.

Some 41 people were hurt as the tornado ripped through the village in southwestern France .

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.

A tornado tore through a village in southwestern France yesterday, injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, according to local authorities.

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.

Emergency services raced to the significant and complex fire at Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant, West Sussex, just before 9pm on Saturday 22 August, with a man arrested on suspicion of arson

Firefighters were tackling a major that is believed to have began at the Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant, West Sussex, with a car park believed to be used by Gatwick Airport holidaymakers was also damaged in the blaze