A tornado of rare intensity devastated a village in southern France, causing widespread destruction and leaving residents in shock on Tuesday, with the mayor describing the aftermath as resembling "wartime". The tornado, which swept through the Aude department late Monday afternoon, hit the small village of Pomas hardest, bringing down walls, tearing off roofs, and uprooting trees. Thirty-nine people were injured, including two severely, and 17 people were hospitalised. Herve Gine, the mayor of Pomas, which is home to around a thousand people, said he had the feeling of living through "a wartime situation".

Au moins 41 personnes ont été blessés lundi après-midi à Pomas, dans l’Aude, après le passage dévastateur d’une tornade qui a aussi endommagé 300 habitations

Homes were reportedly destroyed near Carcassonne as severe storms brought damaging winds, large hail and torrential rain to the Aude department.