WASHINGTON: A major storm system caused tornadoes and devastating winds across several central states, leaving at least 11 people dead and dozens injured. Multiple tornadoes swept through Arkansas state on Friday, including in Little Rock, killing at least five people. Dozens of others have been reported injured.
The National Weather Service had also issued warnings of the tornado for several other US from as far north as Iowa to the southern state of Mississippi. At least 154,000 homes were without electricity on Saturday, according to the US Poweroutage website.
The Illinois town of Belvidere saw severe weather cause the roof and part of the facade of the Apollo Theater to collapse while a heavy metal band played on stage inside.
TV showed injured concert-goers being carried out on stretchers by emergency personnel. Social media videos depicted rubble on the concert venue floor and a hole in the roof.
Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle confirmed one death and 28 injuries, including five serious cases that required hospitalization. In Sullivan County, Indiana, a storm claimed the lives of three people.
Overnight tornadoes also caused one fatality each in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, and Madison County, Alabama, according to emergency officials on Saturday.
Weather system advances toward US east coast
As the system advanced towards the US east coast, several mid-Atlantic states received high wind warnings.
The National Weather System cautioned that maximum wind gusts could reach up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour across much of the Appalachians, upper Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic regions on Saturday.
Tornadoes are prevalent in the United States, particularly in the central and southern regions. In December 2021, tornadoes killed roughly 80 people in Kentucky.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency and mobilized the national guard to support recovery operations. President Joe Biden visited Rolling Fork, Mississippi, one of the hardest-hit areas in last week’s tornado.
The storm system has caused extensive damage, including homes torn apart, overturned cars, and uprooted trees.
Emergency services and recovery operations are now in place in affected cities, and the government has advised residents to exercise extra caution.
