A powerful tornado tore through the village of Pomas in southwestern France on Monday, injuring 39 people and causing extensive damage to hundreds of homes. The incident occurred amid an orange alert for thunderstorms issued by French authorities, who had already warned of potential power outages and transport disruptions in the region. The tornado, with winds reaching 117km/h (73mph), is reported to have uprooted trees, damaged cars, and destroyed homes, leaving more than 2,800 houses across ten villages without electricity. Two people were critically injured, while one resident described the tornado as a "huge red and yellow chimney" that left about a third of a nearby castle in ruins. The third stage of the Vuelta a España cycle race was also cancelled due to a hailstorm in the area. This extreme weather event comes after a summer of unprecedented heatwaves and wildfires across Europe, with France's south-west region among the worst affected. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage and providing support to the affected residents.