A ‘small tornado’ suddenly occurred in Ville-sur-Mer, a coastal city in Normandy, France, killing one person and injuring eight others.
According to the Daily Mail on the 19th local time, a strong gust from the English Channel hit the beaches of Normandy on the 18th, killing 9 people.
One 31-year-old kitesurfer was swept away by a gust of wind and crashed into a waterfront restaurant window to death, and eight others suffered minor and major injuries.
French media described the gust as a ‘small tornado’ and said meteorologists did not expect such a strong wind.
A video of the situation at the time was also released through social media (SNS). In the video, when a sand cloud is formed on the beach due to a gust of wind, people are hurriedly leaving their seats in confusion. Chairs and tables placed in the garden and on the terrace are also included in the blown by strong winds.
It was found that the ‘small tornado’ could not be predicted because Meteor France, a meteorological observatory, could not predict it.
Thierry Granturco, Mayor of Ville-sur-Mer, said in an interview with the press, “The gust grew stronger and became a mini tornado.” said.
He continued, “I knew that the wind was going to get stronger, so I could only forecast late in the evening or in the middle of the night,” he said.
