Rare Tornado Topples Cranes Near Paris. Image credit: The Guardian.
(The Post News) – A powerful tornado tore through north of Paris on Monday, 20 October 2025, toppling massive trees, overturning vehicles, and sending construction cranes crashing into nearby buildings. The rare and violent storm left one person dead and at least four others seriously injured, according to local authorities.
Emergency crews were deployed across the Val-d’Oise region, particularly in the hard-hit town of Ermont, where much of the destruction was concentrated. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the tornado tore through the suburbs, uprooting trees and scattering debris across streets and rooftops.
Three large construction cranes collapsed as the tornado passed through the area. One of them struck a partially completed apartment building, killing a 23-year-old construction worker and injuring several of his colleagues. “One crane fell on a clinic, without causing injuries, and another on a residential building. Scores of firefighters, police and medical personnel were at the scene,” authorities said.
Local officials said the tornado struck with little warning in the early afternoon, leaving a trail of devastation that emergency services were still assessing late into the evening. “Dozens of firefighters, police officers, and medical teams worked to clear blocked roads and assist those trapped in damaged buildings,” stated the authorities.
Meteorologists confirmed that it was the first deadly tornado recorded in France in 17 years. Tornadoes of this magnitude are exceedingly rare in the country, though recent years have seen an uptick in extreme weather events linked to changing climate patterns.
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