Deadly Tornadoes Tear Across Three US States, Leaving Trail of Destruction

Tornadoes Tear Across US States, Leaving at Least 14 Dead

At least 14 people have tragically lost their lives as tornadoes ripped through three states in the US, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

The devastation hit northern Texas the hardest, where seven people were killed. Arkansas also suffered five casualties, while two lives were claimed in Oklahoma. Along with the loss of life, scores were left injured and nearly half a million residents were left without electricity across multiple states.

Sheriff Ray Sappington of Cook County, Texas, shared heartbreaking news that the death toll included two young children aged 2 and 5, as well as three members of a single family. He expressed his fears that the death toll could potentially rise as the extent of the destruction becomes clearer.

Footage from the affected areas shows a petrol station and rest stop nearly obliterated, with twisted metal strewn among damaged vehicles. The tornadoes overturned trucks, shut down a highway near Dallas, and left tens of thousands of people in the region without power. Meanwhile, lightning, thunder, and heavy rain forced the evacuation of around 125,000 spectators at the Indianapolis 500 in Indiana.

One survivor, Frank Soltysiak, recounted how his home in a mobile home park in north Texas was destroyed within minutes. Taking shelter in a walk-in refrigerator after receiving a warning, he emerged to find everything gone in just two minutes.

The storms in Texas coincided with record-breaking heat in some areas, with triple-digit temperatures reported over the Memorial Day weekend. In Oklahoma, two people were killed and six injured, while Arkansas reported multiple injuries and fatalities. Police in Rogers, Arkansas, rescued several individuals trapped by debris from the tornado.

As the storm system moves eastward, the National Weather Service is warning of severe wind and hail in its path. Hundreds of thousands of people in states from Texas to Kentucky are currently without power. These recent tornadoes follow another deadly twister that struck Iowa earlier in May, claiming four lives.

With forecasters predicting an “extraordinary” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season starting next month, the country remains on high alert for more severe weather events in the coming weeks.