A rare tornado hit several towns in Val-d\u2019Oise, a French department located just north of Paris, killing one person and injuring nine others, according to officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The storm hit on Monday afternoon, causing extensive damage in the towns of Ermont, Eaubonne, Andilly, Montmorency, and Franconville, French Interior Minister Laurent Nu\u00f1ez said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA sudden and unusually intense tornado hit several municipalities in Val-d\u2019Oise, causing the death of one person and seriously injuring several others,\u201d Nu\u00f1ez said in a post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Val-d\u2019Oise prefecture<\/a>, one person died, four others were critically injured, and five sustained less severe injuries. About 1,700 homes were left without electricity, and dozens of residents were evacuated to a local gymnasium in Ermont, which was opened to provide temporary shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pontoise prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said the deceased was a 23-year-old construction worker who was at a job site when the storm hit. A police source told TF1<\/a> that cranes and trees collapsed in the area, located roughly six kilometers (about four miles) north of Argenteuil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over 150 firefighters, paramedics, and police officers carried out 324 interventions and responded to more than 700 emergency calls following the tornado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tornadoes are uncommon in France but do occur a few times each year, typically in the country\u2019s north and west. They are generally weak and short-lived compared to those in North America, though some can cause significant damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Authorities said recovery operations are continuing and warned residents to avoid wooded or damaged areas and to stay clear of downed power lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n