At least 17 people were killed and dozens injured as severe storms and tornadoes swept across the central and southern United States on Saturday. Missouri reported the highest number of fatalities, with at least 11 deaths, according to authorities. One of the victims was a man whose home was completely destroyed by a tornado.
Officials in Arkansas said three people died in Independence County, and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state.
“We have teams out surveying the damage from last night’s tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X. She and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared states of emergency. Kemp said he was making the declaration in anticipation of severe weather moving in later Saturday.
The massive, deadly storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that triggered deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires, AP reports. The storms also caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, leaving thousands without power.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of continued severe weather risks, including tornadoes, high winds, and blizzard conditions, across a large area from the Canadian border to Texas.
The Storm Prediction Center said significant tornadoes, some of which could be long-track and violent, are expected Saturday and Sunday in the Southeastern states, including Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida panhandle.
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