A tornado swept through a village in the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, destroying homes and injuring dozens, authorities said, describing it as a rare and traumatic event.
Around 300 of the 500 houses in the village of Pomas have been damaged, officials said, adding that 100 of the damaged ones may no longer be safe to live in.
Everyone in the village has been evacuated while officials check the houses’ safety.
None of the injured are in critical condition.
The tornado left a trail of destruction in Pomas, with some houses reduced to rubble, while others were left with no roof, or with parts of walls torn down.
France has a few dozen tornadoes a year, far fewer than the United States, where more than 1,000 are recorded each year.
They are also usually mild in France, making the destruction seen in Pomas a rare case.
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