Rare Tornado Near Paris Kills One and Leaves Several Critically Injured
A rare and violent tornado swept across northern suburbs of Paris on Monday, causing the collapse of three construction cranes and leaving one worker dead and ten others injured, including four in critical condition. The town of Ermont, located about 20 kilometers (13 miles) north of the capital, was the hardest hit.
Cranes Collapse Within Seconds
According to investigators, the tornado struck with little warning, toppling cranes and tearing apart rooftops across at least ten districts. Video footage shared on social media shows three cranes crashing to the ground in a matter of seconds, triggering widespread panic.
One of the cranes fell onto a clinic, while another struck a residential building. Authorities confirmed that, despite severe material damage, no additional deaths occurred at those locations.
Officials: A “Sudden and Rare” Tornado
Regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras confirmed that a 23-year-old construction worker died on-site. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the event as a storm of “sudden and rare intensity,” expressing condolences to the victim’s family and praising first responders for their swift action.
Witnesses Describe a Terrifying Scene
Residents reported scenes of chaos as debris flew through the air, cars were damaged, and rooftops were torn apart. “It sounded like a train rushing through the street,” one witness said. “We had only seconds to hide.”
Investigation and Aftermath
Authorities have cordoned off damaged areas and launched an investigation into safety measures at the construction site. Meteorologists note that while France does experience occasional tornadoes, events of this scale remain exceptionally rare.
Cleanup and structural assessments are now underway, as residents and officials in Ermont continue to recover from one of the region’s most unexpected weather disasters in recent years.