At least 27 people have been killed and dozens more injured after tornadoes and violent storms swept across the central United States on Saturday, with local news showing widespread devastation, including torn-off roofs and overturned trucks. Officials warned of additional tornadoes expected throughout the weekend.
Eight fatalities were reported in Kansas after a crash involving more than 50 vehicles, triggered by low visibility during a “severe dust storm,” according to local police. Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 12 storm-related deaths and shared images of destroyed marinas, where boats were piled on top of one another. Trees and power lines were downed, and buildings suffered significant damage due to tornadoes, thunderstorms, and large hail.
“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through, it was so fast, our ears were all about to burst,” Alicia Wilson, who was evacuated from her home in Missouri, said.
Missouri saw fatalities in Wayne County (six deaths), Ozark County (three deaths and multiple injuries), as well as one death each in Butler, Jefferson, and St. Louis counties. Further south, Texas saw four people killed in vehicle accidents linked to dust storms and fires, which reduced visibility on the roads. Arkansas reported three deaths and 29 injuries, prompting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency and request federal assistance.
By Saturday evening, over 200,000 homes and businesses in the affected region were without power. The National Weather Service issued warnings for more tornadoes, including significant and potentially violent ones, in states such as Mississippi and Tennessee. The central U.S. region, known as “Tornado Alley,” faces frequent violent storms due to its unique geographical and meteorological conditions.
APF