A tornado of unusual strength has struck the village of Pomas in southern France, resulting in numerous injuries and causing damage to over 300 residences. Fortunately, there have been no reports of anyone missing.
According to the Aude prefecture, as of Tuesday morning, 1,400 households remain without power. Below is an overview of the tornado and its consequences.
The tornado whirls above the village of Verzeille, located just a few kilometers east of Pomas, late Monday, captured in this screengrab from a social media video and authenticated by Reuters. Many of the residences affected by its passage had their windows shattered.
(Denis Marechal/Reuters)
The tornado is also seen traversing Preixan, located a few kilometers north of Pomas, in this screengrab obtained from social media and verified by Reuters.
(Guillaume Noe/Reuters)
Assessing the damage and beginning cleanup
A man stands amidst the debris of a damaged home in Pomas on Tuesday.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
Debris is scattered across the floor of the Saint Julien et Sainte Basilisse church after its roof collapsed due to the tornado in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
This image depicts fallen trees in a cemetery in the aftermath of the tornado in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
Workers are seen covering a damaged building’s roof with a tarp in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
Pedestrians navigate around a fallen tree near damaged properties in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)