At least 33 dead as tornadoes ravage central US

At least 33 people lost their lives and dozens were injured on Saturday as tornadoes and violent storms swept through the central United States, CNN reported.

Local news footage showed homes with roofs torn off and large trucks overturned, while forecasters warned of additional tornadoes expected over the weekend.

In Kansas, eight people were killed in a crash involving over 50 vehicles, which police attributed to low visibility during a "severe dust storm."


Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 12 storm-related deaths and released images of boats stacked on top of one another at a marina that had been destroyed. The patrol also noted downed trees, damaged buildings, and power outages caused by "tornadoes, thunderstorms, and large hail."

"It was the scariest thing I've ever been through; it was so fast, our ears were all about to burst," said Alicia Wilson, a Missouri resident who had to evacuate her home, told.

Missouri's Wayne County recorded six fatalities, with three more in Ozark County, where several injuries were also reported. Additional deaths occurred in Butler, Jefferson, and St. Louis counties.

Further south in Texas, four people died in vehicle accidents linked to dust storms and fires that reduced road visibility, according to local authorities.

In Arkansas, officials confirmed three deaths and 29 injuries from the storm. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency and said she had spoken with President Donald Trump.

"He said to tell the people of Arkansas he loves them and he and his administration are here to help with whatever we need following last night's tornadoes," Sanders posted on X.

By Saturday evening, poweroutage.us reported that over 200,000 homes and businesses across the central U.S. were without electricity.

Forecasters warned that more tornadoes could strike the central Gulf Coast states, including Mississippi and Tennessee, later that evening.

"Numerous significant tornadoes, some of which may be long-track and potentially violent, should continue into this evening," the National Weather Service warned.

Tornadoes are spinning columns of air that extend from massive cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds and touch the ground. The central and southern states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas are especially prone to severe tornadoes due to unique geographical and meteorological conditions.

This region, known as "Tornado Alley," often experiences intense storms from May to June as varying wind temperatures collide to form volatile storm clouds.

In 2024, 54 people had died in tornado-related incidents in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

With inputs from AFP, AP & Reuters