One person has died and four people are in critical condition after a tornado struck a town near Paris on Monday.

The freak weather event hit Ermont in Val d'Oise, around 13 miles northeast of the French capital, causing three cranes to come crashing down - one of which fell on a clinic.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who labelled it as a storm of 'rare intensity' said he was monitoring the situation closely, adding that several people had been rushed to hospital as a result of the tornado.

Regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said the person who died was a 23-year-old construction worker.

Footage of the storm shows the incredibly strong winds forcing the cranes onto buildings, one of which was residential, below.

Numerous roofs were torn off and cars left overturned with multiple power outages reported in the area.

Eighty firefighters, 50 police officers, and 20 members of the SAMU - the emergency medical service - were mobilised to the help support those effected.

According to local news the White Plan has been activated at Simone-Veil Hospital in Éaubonne, which allows the hospital to enact emergency measures in light of an influx of patients.

Mr Nunez wrote on X: 'A sudden and rare intensity tornado episode struck several municipalities in the Val d'Oise, causing the death of one person and seriously injuring several others.

'I am following the situation closely and express my support to the elected officials, the rescuers on site, and the affected residents.

'I extend my condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased victim.'

Source - Daily mail