US Tornado Series: Mass Deaths, Destruction Sites

A series of tornadoes have wreaked havoc in several US states. At least 26 people died and entire towns were destroyed. A storm center is forecast for the area again on Tuesday.

A fierce storm system in the US South and Midwest has unleashed a series of devastating tornadoes. At least 26 people were killed and dozens injured.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in her state. He appealed to US President Joe Biden for federal assistance. Among others, the Arkansas capital of Little Rock was affected, where, according to the mayor, more than 2,600 residential and commercial buildings were in the path of the tornado. At least one person died and dozens were injured in the Little Rock area. The town of Vine in northeast Arkansas was also devastated. Four people died here.

Nine deaths have been confirmed in Tennessee. Houses and commercial complexes collapsed, vehicles overturned and trees uprooted. Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi and Ohio are also affected.

In Belvidere, Illinois, a small town west of Chicago, the roof and part of the facade of a concert building collapsed during a heavy metal concert Friday evening. According to the fire department, one person died and 28 people were injured, five of them critically.

Seven people were killed in McNairy County, Tennessee, east of Memphis. After all, homes and neighborhoods were damaged, said Adamsville Mayor David Lechner. In Sullivan County, Indiana, the storm killed three people and injured 12, Mayor Clint Lamb said.

Authorities in nearby Crawford County later confirmed four more deaths across the state line in Illinois. A woman has been killed and three others seriously injured in Madison County, Alabama, according to emergency services. Officials confirmed one person died and four others were injured in Pontotoc County, Mississippi.

More thunderstorms and storms are in the forecast

Hurricanes are difficult to predict. They are relatively common in the United States, especially in the center and south of the country. Thunderstorms, hail and strong winds are also forecast for the US East Coast on Sunday.

The National Weather Service’s storm center says such “intense supercell thunderstorms” are likely to become more frequent, especially in the southern United States, “as global temperatures continue to rise.” The next major storm center is already predicted for next Tuesday in the same area.