One person was killed, another went missing and dozens more have been injured after a small tornado blew through southwestern France Saturday, rescue workers said.
The tornado, which destroyed the camping ground it struck near Perpignan, was "brief, but violent," they said. Around 30 people were injured.
Another two people were injured, one by a falling tree, after a small tornado swept through the town of Villeneuve-les Maguelone, 10 kilometers (six miles) from Montpellier.
Lasting just a few minutes, the storm damaged several houses, and disrupted rail traffic in the region.
The area continues to be plagued with floods, with the Herault river reaching flood alert levels late Friday night.
Violent storms also shook the southern Ardeche, Cevennes, and Drome regions Saturday morning, with meteorological services forecasting intense amounts of rain flooding the region until nightfall.
They warned of possible flooding, blackouts and transport disruption.
France's Somme region experienced violent floods earlier this year and storms in winter 1999 damaged several monuments and felled thousands of trees -- PERPIGNAN (AFP)
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