Overview
- The tornado struck Ermont and nearby municipalities around 5:45 p.m. local time, about 10 miles north of Paris, after what officials described as a rare burst of violent wind.
- Officials reported one death, four people in critical condition and five with less severe injuries following the storm.
- The Pontoise prosecutor’s office said the victim, a 23-year-old construction worker, was fatally struck by a falling crane at a construction site.
- Three cranes collapsed as roofs were ripped off, trees uprooted and cars overturned, with over 1,500 customers losing power, evacuations to a gymnasium and some road and rail closures reported.
- At least 80 firefighters, 50 police officers and 20 SAMU personnel were deployed as the prefecture opened a departmental operational center and urged residents to avoid non-essential travel; Keraunos said the episode likely came from a supercell-type storm.