Huge tornado tears through villages in Southern France as over 300 homes damaged

A huge tornado has swept through a region of France, causing chaos and destruction in its path.

The weather phenomenon struck Aude in southern France late ⁠on Monday, damaging more than 300 homes and injuring 41 ⁠people.

Shock social media footage showed ​the ⁠tornado swirling above ‌the village of Verzeille ‌late on Monday. Many ‌of the homes caught up in ⁠its path had their windows smashed as a result of the high winds.

The ⁠local administration said gusts of up to 117 km/h were recorded, with the strongest winds hitting the commune of Pomas and its 1,000 residents.

The tornado struck just as part of the region was on orange alert. Local authorities said a total of 41 people were injured, 15 of whom were taken to hospital, and 300 homes were damaged.