21 Dead, Several Injured After Deadly Tornadoes, Storms Tear Through US States
The storm system is now believed to be heading towards the US east coast and is expected to bring thunderstorms, hail, and powerful winds until late Sunday.
New Delhi: At least 21 people have been killed after devasting tornadoes and storms ripped through south-central and eastern parts of the United States, AFP reported citing US officials. The deadly storms have left dozens of others injured.
Tennessee, one of the states hardest hit by the storms, witnessed seven weather-related fatalities, a spokesperson for the emergency management agency confirmed to AFP.
In addition, there have been 14 deaths reported in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Indiana, and Illinois. The storm system is now believed to be heading towards the US east coast and is expected to bring thunderstorms, hail, and powerful winds until late Sunday.
On Friday, the storm had caused multiple tornadoes, some of which were of exceptional size and power, sweeping through Arkansas, including the capital Little Rock, where at least five people were killed, according to the state's governor, as reported by AFP.
Daylight revealed extensive damage, with several homes torn apart, cars overturned, power lines toppled and trees ripped out of the ground.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency and activated the national guard to help with recovery efforts.
She said she had spoken to President Joe Biden, who had promised to expedite federal aid.
The city of Wynne, in northeastern Arkansas, was "cut in half by damage from east to west," Mayor Jennifer Hobbs told CNN, reported AFP.
The National Weather Service had also issued tornado warnings for several other states, from as far north as Iowa to the southern state of Mississippi, where a twister last week killed 25 people and caused extensive property damage.
More than 610,000 homes were without power Saturday, according to the poweroutage.us website.
Tornadoes are common in the United States, especially in the center and south of the country.
President Biden on Friday visited the Mississippi city of Rolling Fork, one of the worst-hit areas in last week's tornado.
In December 2021, tornadoes killed about 80 people in Kentucky.
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