Powerful tornado hits village of Pomas in southwestern France

On Monday, August 25, 2026, a powerful tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwestern France around 5:20 p.m. local time. The extreme weather, characterized by winds reaching up to 117 km/h, caused significant destruction, with reports varying on the number of injuries; while some sources cite 26 injured, others report 41. Additionally, two people are reported missing. Local authorities mobilized over 120 emergency responders to assist in rescue efforts.

Approximately 100 to 300 homes sustained structural damage, including collapsed walls and missing roofs. A pregnant woman was among those hospitalized after her house partially collapsed, reportedly saved by a sofa when a wall fell. Furthermore, the storm caused widespread power outages, affecting 2,800 households across 10 municipalities, and led to localized road closures due to downed trees. These events occurred while 20 departments in southern France were under an "orange alert" for dangerous weather.

Rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the missing persons and provide aid to the displaced. Authorities have opened two shelters for residents whose homes were damaged, while utility crews work to restore electricity to the affected areas.