Tornado causes major damage south of Carcassonne

Published on 24/08/2026 - 22:01 GMT+2 According to the prefecture of the Aude department, the tornado struck late on Monday afternoon at 5.20pm, particularly in Pomas and several municipalities to the south of Carcassonne. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Numerous videos posted on social media show a powerful swirling column of wind moving through several towns. Firefighters in Pomas received numerous calls for help over roofs being torn off. Initial reports mention no injuries, but the damage is extensive. The prefecture says 2,800 households have been left without power across several towns. The Pomas town hall is urging all those affected by the tornado to take shelter in the community hall, where an emergency accommodation centre has been set up. By early evening, around a hundred firefighters were on site and reinforcements were expected. Trees ripped up by the wind have fallen onto departmental roads, making traffic difficult. The tornado hit while part of the South-West was under an orange weather warning. Météo France recorded wind gusts of up to 117 km/h.