A tornado has resulted in one fatality and left at least four individuals with severe injuries in an area located just 10 miles north of Paris. The Val d’Oise region in France was struck by the tornado, causing three cranes to collapse and roofs to be ripped off amidst powerful winds described by authorities as “sudden” and “unusually intense.”
Emergency services swiftly responded to the incident, with 80 firefighters, 50 police officers, and 20 ambulance service members deployed to residential neighborhoods in Ermont to manage the aftermath of debris falling. The deceased victim, a 23-year-old construction worker at the site hit by the tornado, was confirmed by the prefect of Val-d’Oise.
Roads and railway lines leading out of the affected area remain closed as the cleanup operation continues. The tornado hit around 5:45 pm local time and was reported to have originated from a “supercell-type storm” by the Keraunos observatory, a French meteorological organization specializing in monitoring tornadoes and severe weather events.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez took to Twitter to express condolences for the victim and support for the affected residents, emergency services, and local officials in the wake of the tragic event.