Tornado damages 300 houses in Pomas as recovery begins in southern France

Tornado impact on Pomas

A violent tornado struck the commune of Pomas in south-western France on Monday, 24 August 2026, at approximately 17:20. The storm swept through the Aude department in the Corbières area for roughly two minutes, generating wind gusts of up to 117 km/h. Out of roughly 500 homes in the village of 1,000 residents, 300 suffered structural damage, with approximately 100 houses destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. Aerial drone footage revealed stripped roofs, collapsed brick walls, uprooted trees, and crushed vehicles, with insulation and metal sheeting scattered across surrounding fields. The village château was also partially destroyed, while neighbouring communes such as Verzeille recorded funnel winds and broken windows.

Casualties and emergency response

Emergency services mobilized across the disaster area to treat casualties and stabilize compromised buildings. Aude prefect Alain Bucquet stated on Tuesday that approximately 50 people passed through an emergency center established in the municipal multipurpose hall (salle polyvalente). Bucquet noted that 20 individuals were admitted to local hospitals, with none remaining in critical condition, while separate early administrative tallies reported at least 39 injured and 15 hospitalized. Up to 120 firefighters and 11 specialized external units from neighbouring departments, including Hérault and Haute-Garonne, deployed to clear rubble, shore up unstable facades, and prevent looting.

Fort heureusement, le bilan humain est un peu plus léger que le bilan matériel.

Community response and rescues

Residents and volunteer teams from neighbouring towns continued clearing debris and securing properties on Wednesday. First responders worked overnight to evaluate structural collapse risks and install protective tarps over exposed roof timbers. Among the survivors, a six-month-pregnant resident named Justine was extracted from under 300 kilograms of fallen masonry after remaining trapped between beams for more than 90 minutes, shielded by her sofa. Another couple, Amarante and Kendji, lost their two-year-old house weeks before their planned wedding, searching through rubble to retrieve personal belongings. Power disruptions initially affected more than 2,800 homes across Aude on Monday evening, with 1,400 households remaining without electricity on Wednesday.

Regional response and weather conditions

The tornado developed during an orange weather alert as high summer temperatures gave way to severe thunderstorms across south-western France. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged the destruction on X shortly after the event.

A tornado of rare intensity struck the Aude region late yesterday afternoon, severely damaging the village of Pomas.

Occitanie regional president Carole Delga scheduled an inspection visit for Wednesday at 14:30 alongside Aude departmental council president Hélène Sandragné, Carcassonne Agglo president Régis Banquet, and Prefect Bucquet. The delegation planned to assess municipal recovery needs and organize financial and logistical aid for displaced households. Technical crews continue monitoring damaged structures to determine whether affected buildings can be safely rebuilt or reoccupied.