A powerful tornado has struck the village of Pomas in southern France, causing injuries to many and resulting in damage to over 300 residences. Fortunately, there have been no reports of missing individuals.
According to the Aude prefecture, as of Tuesday morning, 1,400 homes were still experiencing power outages. Below is a glimpse of the tornado and its consequences.
The tornado twisted above the village of Verzeille, located just a few kilometers east of Pomas, late Monday, as captured in this screengrab from a social media video verified by Reuters. Numerous homes in its trajectory suffered shattered windows.
(Denis Marechal/Reuters)
The tornado can also be seen moving through Preixan, situated a few kilometers north of Pomas, in this social media screengrab verified by Reuters.
(Guillaume Noe/Reuters)
Assessing the damage and cleanup efforts
A man is seen standing among the debris of a damaged house in Pomas on Tuesday.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
After the tornado, debris is scattered across the floor of Saint Julien et Sainte Basilisse church following a roof collapse.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
This image shows fallen trees within a cemetery in the aftermath of the event in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
Workers are seen covering a damaged roof with a tarpaulin in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)
Pedestrians navigate past a fallen tree near damaged residences in Pomas.
(Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images)