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Rare Tornado Near Paris Kills One, Topples Cranes as Surveys Point to IF2 Strength

Recovery operations continue with power cuts, hundreds of emergency calls, temporary sheltering.

Overview

  • Officials confirmed one fatality, a 23-year-old construction worker hit at a building site, and nine injured, including four in critical condition and five seriously hurt.
  • Three construction cranes collapsed in Ermont, with one striking a clinic without causing additional injuries, as roofs were torn off, vehicles overturned, and trees uprooted.
  • Authorities mobilized around 150 responders — including 80 firefighters, 50 police officers, and 20 SAMU staff — and logged more than 700 calls for assistance while coordinating through a departmental operations center.
  • About 1,700 households lost power overnight, parks were closed, rail services were disrupted into Tuesday, and a municipal gymnasium opened to shelter displaced residents.
  • Initial assessments by ESWD and Keraunos indicate a low‑topped supercell produced an IF2/EF2‑caliber tornado around 17:45 local time on October 20, with a full ground survey and final rating pending.