Dozens injured, hundreds evacuated: powerful tornado hits France
The tornado struck with great force in the Aude department. Two missing people were found under the rubble of a house with minor injuries. 41 people were treated and 15 were evacuated to hospitals. About 600 residents were evacuated from their homes.
Two people who were reported missing following a powerful tornado that struck on Monday in the town of Pomas in the Aude department in southern France were found with minor injuries. This was reported by the spokesperson for the French internal security and rescue services, Frédéric Héraud.
The two were found trapped under the rubble of a house and were rescued by fire crews. They were found suffering from minor injuries and were evacuated for medical treatment.
In total, 41 people were injured as a result of the storm, and 15 of them were hospitalized. About 600 of the village's 1,000 residents were evacuated from their homes. About 300 houses were damaged, including structures that sustained heavy damage, with roofs torn off and walls collapsed.
Two reception centers were opened for residents who were forced to evacuate their homes during the night — one in the multi-purpose hall in Pomas and the other in the city of Limoux. A number of roads remained blocked until late in the evening, partly due to fallen trees and the need to allow rescue forces to operate in the area.
Numerous videos circulated on social media documented the tornado as it swirled toward the stormy sky in several localities in the Aude department. At 19:30, about 2,800 households remained without electricity in the localities of Fonters-du-Razès, Camplong, Souilhanels, Raissac-d'Aude, Fabrezan, Montmaur, Soupex, Ricaud, Montclar, and La Pomarède.
The French meteorological service, Météo-France, placed several departments in the southwest of the country, including Aude, on orange alert due to thunderstorms. The service warned of the possibility of locally violent weather phenomena.
