Tornado in southwestern France damages over 300 homes, injures dozens

A tornado swept through the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, damaging more than 300 homes and injuring at least 39 people in the village of Pomas, authorities said.

By Tuesday morning some 21,000 households were without power in southern France, including 1,600 in the Aude, local grid operator ENEDIS said.

"A tornado of rare intensity struck the Aude region late yesterday afternoon, severely damaging the village of Pomas," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X.

Social media footage verified by Reuters showed the tornado swirling above the nearby village of Verzeille in Aude, late on Monday. Many of the homes caught up in its path had their windows smashed.

The tornado struck as this summer's intense heatwave gave way this week to thunderstorms in many areas of southern France.