A tornado swept through parts of southwestern France on Monday, injuring 41 people and damaging hundreds of homes, authorities said. French officials had issued an orange weather warning for storms across the south-west, with outages and disruption to travel reported in multiple areas. In the Aude region, officials cancelled the third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race after a hailstorm forced riders to take shelter. Hardest Hit In PomasThe storm caused the greatest damage in the village of Pomas, which has a population of about 1,000. Local estimates said around 300 homes were damaged, with some roofs torn off. More than 120 emergency workers were sent to the scene, local authorities said. Of the 41 injured, 15 were taken to hospital. The injured included a pregnant woman who was hurt after her house collapsed, her husband told AFP. Wind Speeds Recorded Near Arquettes-en-ValThe national weather service, Meteo-France, said winds reached up to 73 miles per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val. France experiences several dozen tornadoes each year on average, according to previous estimates. Travel Disrupted Across Southern FranceStorms across southern France disrupted transport networks, with trains delayed and roads closed. Airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and even Paris reported delays and cancellations, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said. Officials said power cuts affected multiple communities. An estimated 2,800 homes were left without electricity across 10 villages. AQOCjgpvfHUjczhfA6xK3N0GmQtqoeKFYWaXwZB1cfBX0fpyQyEAY8GOSHGtfrfT1K90JitTRrJGvCnSflM-ahr-z-MZUQFZZs_i1CUC8w.mp4 Join the discussion? 25 August 2026
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