An unusually intense tornado hit several towns north of Paris on Monday. Three cranes from a construction site collapsed, and numerous roofs were ripped off by the strong gusts.
A 23-year-old man lost his life, and ten other people were injured, with four in critical condition, French authorities announced.
The extreme phenomenon mainly struck the town of Ermont, located about 20 kilometers northeast of Paris, as reported by The Guardian. Prefect Philippe Court described the event as something "resembling a mini-tornado," which formed suddenly in the afternoon.
According to regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras, the victim was an employee of a private construction company working at the site of the tragedy.
Collapsed Cranes
In just a few seconds, the tornado brought down three cranes, according to video footage shared on social media. One of them collapsed onto a residential building, another onto a medical clinic, and the third directly onto the construction site where the young worker died. Fortunately, the crane's collapse onto the medical facility did not cause further casualties.
Approximately 80 firefighters, 50 police officers, and 20 emergency medical service members were mobilized to handle the aftermath of the disaster, the prefecture stated.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated on Platform X that it was "a sudden and rare intense storm," adding, "I am closely monitoring the situation and express my support for the authorities, rescuers, and affected residents. My condolences go out to the victim's family."