A freak tornado in killed three people and destroyed around 40 houses in northern France last night.

The tornado struck at around 11pm local time at the town of Hautmont in the Nord-pas-de-Calais region of France leaving 13 people injured. One woman in her 70's was killed after her house collapsed and on Monday morning rescue workers found the bodies of one of the town's deputy mayors and his wife buried in the ruins of  their home.

"There was a deep roaring sound, like a bomb raid," local resident Erick Filleur told AFP. "My wife was watching television. Then suddenly my daughter cried out, my shutters exploded and part of our roof flew off."

Houses in the nearby towns of Nine-Mesnil and Maubeuge were also damaged as the tornado accompanied by heavy winds and hail moved northwards across the region. During the onslaught cars were hurled into the air and roofs torn off buildings.

More than 200 rescue workers with sniffer dogs have been sent to the area to search through rubble and houses to ensure that other people have not been buried or trapped.

Rail traffic and electricity supplies are also affected as the high winds bought down power lines.


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