A powerful tornado has struck the village of Pomas in southern France, causing extensive damage to over 300 homes and injuring numerous people. Fortunately, there have been no reports of missing individuals.
According to the Aude prefecture, as of Tuesday morning, 1,400 households were still without electricity due to the aftermath of the tornado. The tornado was captured on video swirling over the village of Verzeille, located a few kilometers east of Pomas, with many homes in its path experiencing shattered windows.
Images obtained from social media and verified by Reuters show the tornado moving through Preixan, a nearby village north of Pomas.
In the wake of the disaster, residents are now assessing the damage and beginning the cleanup process. A man is seen amidst the wreckage of a damaged house in Pomas, while debris litters the floor of the Saint Julien et Sainte Basilisse church following the collapse of its roof. Fallen trees in a cemetery and men covering a damaged building’s roof with a tarp further illustrate the extent of the destruction.
Pedestrians navigate the area, passing by a fallen tree and damaged homes in Pomas, as the community works to recover from the tornado’s impact.