Dozens injured and hundreds of homes damaged following tornado in France 

Some 21,000 households were without ​power in southern France on Tuesday, including 1,600 in the Aude, local grid operator ENEDIS said.

This video grab taken from Villefloure, shows a tornado hitting Pomas, southwestern France, on August 24, 2026. A tornado struck the Aude department on August 24 as part of southwestern France remained under an orange storm alert, with several rooftops torn off in the village of Pomas, an AFP photographer at the scene reported. Photo: Cyrille Kaldor/UGC/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

A tornado swept ​through the Aude region of southwestern ‌France late on Monday, damaging more than 300 homes and injuring dozens, authorities said.

Thirty-nine ​people were injured, including two ​in critical condition in the village of ⁠Pomas, local 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.

Pedestrians walk past a toppled tree after a tornado struck Pomas, southwestern France on August 24, 2026. Photo: Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP via Getty Images

"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.