In the village of Pomas, in south-western France, 39 people were injured, and hundreds of houses were damaged by a powerful tornado.

Fourteen people were taken to hospital, two of whom were reported as being in critical condition, said authorities. Emergency crews also brought in over 120 personnel to the village to the south of Carcassonne, where the high winds, with gusts up to 117 kmph (73 mph), caused roofs to be blown off buildings, snapped trees and caused widespread structural damage.

Approximately 300 homes were reported to have sustained damage from the storm. Pictures from the village hardest hit by the tornado, Pomas, featured collapsed houses, damaged cars, trees and debris strewn about.

Other activities around the area were also adversely affected by the extreme weather. The third leg of the Vuelta a España cycling race was called off due to an intense hailstorm forcing riders to seek shelter some 15 km from the finish line.

Meanwhile, some 2,800 households in 10 villages were left in darkness. The number of injuries was reduced from 41 to 39, according to the local authorities, and there were no reports of anyone missing.

Large areas of the south-west of France were already under an orange weather watch for thunderstorms, which have left some areas without electricity and with disrupted transport.

The storm also disrupted air travel and resulted in delays and cancellations at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and north of Paris.

National weather service Météo-France reports that there are several dozen tornadoes that occur in France each year. The latest severe weather follows a summer of extreme heatwaves and wildfires across Europe, including south-western France, which was a region particularly hit by extreme weather.