Tornado Rips Through France! 300 Homes Damaged, Dozens Injured | World News

A powerful tornado tore through southwestern France on Monday, causing widespread destruction in the village of Pomas in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Around 300 homes were damaged, trees were uprooted and roofs were ripped from buildings. Officials said around 40 people were injured, with 15 taken to hospital. Among those injured was a pregnant woman whose house collapsed while she was inside.

More than 120 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to the area, while emergency shelters were established for residents whose homes were damaged.

Meteo-France reported winds of up to 117 km/h (73 mph) in nearby Arquettes-en-Val. The severe weather also caused widespread power cuts, with around 2,800 households without electricity on Monday evening.

Transport was badly affected, with roads closed because of fallen trees, train delays and flight disruptions reported at airports including Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Paris.