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A powerful tornado tore through several districts north of Paris on Monday, leaving one person dead and multiple others injured, according to local authorities.
The rare weather event caused widespread damage, including the collapse of three construction cranes, and has prompted a major emergency response.
The town of Ermont, located approximately 20 kilometers (13 miles) northeast of the French capital, was among the hardest-hit areas. Regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras confirmed that a 23-year-old construction worker was killed at a building site when one of the cranes collapsed. Ten other individuals were injured, four of them critically.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the storm on the social platform X as being of “rare intensity,” noting that the force and speed of the tornado caught residents and workers by surprise.
The twister left a trail of destruction across roughly ten districts, tearing roofs from buildings, damaging infrastructure, and scattering debris across streets.
Emergency services, including firefighters, police officers and medical personnel, were deployed swiftly to assist victims, secure the area and assess structural damage. Cleanup operations continued into the night as rescue teams searched for anyone potentially trapped in the wreckage.
Meteorological experts have called the tornado an exceptional event for the Ile-de-France region, where such powerful storms are extremely uncommon.
Authorities have launched an investigation into both the atmospheric conditions that led to the twister and the safety measures at construction sites affected by the crane collapses.
Local officials have urged residents to remain cautious as recovery and repair operations proceed.
The French government has expressed condolences to the family of the deceased worker and pledged support for those injured and displaced by the disaster.
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