A tornado struck Pomas, a town of approximately 1,000 residents in southwestern France about 100 kilometers from Perpignan near the Spanish border, on Tuesday afternoon. The event occurred shortly after 5 p.m. local time.
The tornado lasted approximately two minutes but caused extensive damage across the locality. According to authorities, 39 people were injured, with 15 hospitalized. A subprefect stated that those hospitalized had no serious consequences from their injuries.
Approximately 300 of the roughly 500 homes in Pomas sustained severe damage. Videos recorded by residents from inside their homes showed garden furniture, containers, roof fragments, and fallen trees airborne during the event. Residents described the images as resembling scenes from disaster films.
Emergency response efforts mobilized more than 100 firefighters and gendarmes to the area. Fourteen specialists in urban search and rescue and a canine unit participated in operations at the site. The Red Cross deployed to assist affected residents, and temporary shelters were established for the night following the tornado's passage.
The tornado affected several localities between Carcassonne and Limoux in the Aude department. The region experienced intense storm activity across southern and western France during the period.
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