WASHINGTON: As many as 32 people have died after strong tornadoes and deadly storms struck multiple states in the United States' South and Midwest over the weekend, authorities said. More than 50 preliminary tornado reports were made on April 1 in at least seven states, as per reports.
The strong tornadoes tore off buildings' roofs, split trees, and sent cars flying as they shattered houses and businesses. One of these tornadoes split Wynne, Arkansas in half, causing damage from the city's western to eastern limits, according to Mayor Jennifer Hobbs, who said on Sunday: "We're just going to need all the help that we can (get) to help these families recover." Another fatality occurred about 100 miles to the southwest in North Little Rock.
Several casualties have been reported in Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee, where the statewide death toll increased to 15 on Sunday, according to officials. Deaths have been confirmed in a large number of states.
Three of the fatalities occurred in Memphis: according to a statement from the Memphis Police Department, two children and one adult were discovered dead after police responded to complaints about trees that had fallen on houses. Nine others reportedly died in McNairy County, Tennessee, County Mayor Larry Smith confirmed. Sheriff Guy Buck saidon Saturday night that the storm "spread our county fully from one side to the other" as workers continued to hunt for survivors in destroyed structures.
At least five people died in Indiana and four died in Illinois, and one person died on April 1 as more than 200 people gathered for a heavy metal concert at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere. One death was also reported by state and municipal authorities in Delaware, Mississippi, and Alabama.
This latest devastation comes just a week following a massive tornado levelled a town in Mississippi, claiming 25 lives, reports Xinhua news. During the same wave of erratic weather, Alabama recorded its 26th death.
The storm threat has now moved to the Southern Plains, where the Storm Prediction Center said there is an elevated risk for severe weather in the afternoon and early evening for almost 13 million people in north Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth region. While flights were cancelled at Dallas airports, the Dallas Office of Emergency Management turned on its sirens for the entire city "because to huge hail," according to officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport both issued ground stops as severe weather moved into Texas. The FAA reported that after being temporarily halted, flights have now resumed.
A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for portions of Oklahoma and Texas.
Following tornadoes that ravaged the US Midwest and South, at least 21 people have died