About sixty personnel and 26 devices were mobilized by firefighters on Thursday to manage the consequences of a "violent phenomenon" of "tornado type" which hit Suippes (Marne).
The device included in particular “special teams”, such as a rescue group in perilous environments, and drones.
No injuries are reported.
While the department was not one of those placed on yellow vigilance with strong winds by Météo-France, around 1:30 p.m., “a mini tornado” “crossed the village” from the south-west to the north-east, “on a corridor about 50 to 100 meters” wide, summarized on the spot Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Moureau, commander of the relief operations.
And this by causing damage to “about fifty buildings, mainly at the level of the roofs”.
“Absolutely unpredictable”
Three buildings are "particularly affected", he continued, including the fire station, a hangar and a detached house.
According to a press release, the fire and rescue center would be destroyed "over 50%".
AFP / François Nascimbeni AFP or licensors
“It was a violent, very short, absolutely unpredictable phenomenon” which “caused very strong damage”, also described the prefect of the Marne, Henri Prévost.
To deplore no injuries, "it's an incredible opportunity".
“The fire station is undoubtedly the most impacted structure”, and “we are committed to restoring it as quickly as possible”, he said.
“The other houses vary, from a few tiles to chimneys, or parts of structures that have been lifted”.
In addition, "there is no request for relocation at this stage, people will in principle be able to return home", and the emergency services "finish securing" the streets.
Without electricity until morning
In this city of 3,800 inhabitants, "180 electricity meter points" are cut and some homes could "remain without power until tomorrow morning", he added.
On October 23, strong winds and at least one tornado hit fifteen municipalities in Oise, Somme and Pas-de-Calais, damaging hundreds of houses and slightly injuring a child.
In Bihucourt, a village of 350 inhabitants among the most affected, 90 homes were affected, including 48 that had become uninhabitable.