Deadly Storms have wreaked havoc across three USA states Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, claiming the lives of at least 18 people, injuring hundreds, and causing widespread destruction. The latest deadly weather to strike the central US obliterated homes and even destroyed a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom.
The worst damage was inflicted in a region spanning from north of Dallas to the northwest corner of Arkansas, with the system posing a continued threat of violent weather across the Midwest. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, citing numerous reports of wind damage and tornadoes.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported seven deaths in Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border, where a tornado plowed through a rural area and devastated a mobile home park. Among the casualties were two children aged 2 and 5, and three family members found dead in one home.
These Deadly Storms also claimed lives in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky, with thousands left without power across the affected region. In Texas alone, around 100 people were injured and over 200 homes and structures were destroyed, with winds reaching estimated speeds of 135 mph (217 kph).
The relentless onslaught of severe weather prompted Governor Abbott to amend a severe weather disaster declaration to include additional counties. Stories of survival emerged, with one individual recounting riding out the storm with dozens of others in a truck stop bathroom as the building was shredded by the ferocious winds.
The destruction continued in Arkansas, where eight people lost their lives, and in Oklahoma, where two fatalities were reported. Kentucky also mourned a storm-related death as a tree fell on a man in Louisville.
The series of storms adds to a grim month of deadly severe weather across the nation’s midsection, with tornadoes in Iowa and a historically bad tornado season exacerbated by climate change. Meteorologists issued urgent warnings as the storms swept across the region, causing widespread destruction and leaving residents to assess the damage in their communities.
Widespread power outages affected tens of thousands of homes and businesses, with recovery efforts underway amidst inaccessible roads and downed power lines. As the severe weather system moves eastward, authorities brace for more potential devastation, urging residents to remain vigilant and seek shelter as needed.