Tornado strikes Pomas, damaging 300 homes in southwestern France
Local authorities in the Aude region have confirmed widespread destruction in the village of Pomas, with around 300 of 500 houses damaged and 100 potentially unsafe to inhabit following a rare storm event.
A tornado swept through the village of Pomas in the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, causing significant damage to residential properties and injuring dozens of residents. Local authorities have described the incident as a rare and traumatic event for the community.
According to official figures released by regional authorities, approximately 300 of the 500 houses in the village have been damaged. Of these, 100 are currently considered potentially unsafe to inhabit, pending further structural assessments.
The event occurred while the region was under a thunderstorm alert, highlighting the sudden intensity of the weather system. The disruption to local infrastructure has been substantial, with more than 1,400 homes reported without electricity as of 25 August.
Injury reports indicate that 41 people were affected by the storm, with two individuals listed in critical condition. The scale of the damage has prompted a coordinated response from local and regional bodies to manage the immediate aftermath and assess long-term housing needs.
The mayor of Pomas has characterised the scene as resembling wartime, underscoring the severity of the impact on the small community. As investigations continue, officials are focusing on verifying the structural integrity of the remaining buildings to determine which residents can safely return.
This incident marks one of the more significant recent weather-related disruptions in the Aude region, drawing attention to the vulnerability of rural infrastructure to extreme meteorological events.
