Entire Village Evacuated After Tornadoes Rake Southern France

The small village of Pomas in the South of France is reeling after a powerful tornado struck late Monday, causing widespread destruction and injuring 39 residents, two of whom are in critical condition. Authorities reported that around 300 homes were damaged, prompting the evacuation of the entire village while structural integrity is assessed.

Residents described a terrifying ordeal as the tornado tore through their community. Severine, a Pomas resident who chose not to give her last name, told BFM TV that the experience felt like "death itself falling upon us." She recounted how her family huddled in their car, feeling the vehicle shake violently as the tornado raged around them before they managed to speed away.

"We fled. It was pure survival instinct," Severine said, visibly shaken, as neighbors helped her family sift through the ruins of their home for any salvageable belongings. The village of Pomas is located south of Carcassonne, near the Pyrenees mountains and approximately 80 kilometers from the Spanish border.

The full extent of the damage is still being evaluated, but the immediate aftermath has seen a community effort to support those affected by the sudden and violent storm. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of the evacuated residents and beginning the process of recovery from the tornado's destructive path.