At least five killed after major tornado strikes Missouri in dead of night
At least five people have been killed after a large tornado tore through rural Missouri in the middle of the night.
The twister struck in Bollinger County, 50 miles south of St Louis, at around 3.30am, authorities said.
Emergency crews began searching with flashlights in the darkness for survivors after a number of homes were obliterated and trees uprooted.
“The damage is pretty widespread. It’s just heartbreaking to see it,” Sgt. Clark Parrott of the Missouri State Highway Patrol told The Associated Press.
The townships of Grassy and Glenallen were particularly affected, Bollinger County Sheriff Casey Graham wrote in a Facebook post.
“Throughout the early morning and continuing now, efforts for search and rescue are underway,” he wrote. “It’s with great regret that I can confirm five fatalities; names will be withheld until we are sure all family members have been notified.”
He added: “Please understand the scope of this operation. I know everyone wants updates and news of what happened. As your Sheriff, I am focused on ensuring those who still need help are receiving it, and we account for all our citizens. I will update you when I can.”
Justin Gibbs, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Paducah, Kentucky, told the AP that the tornado remained on the ground for roughly 15 minutes, traveling an estimated 15-20 miles.
Larry Welker, Bollinger County’s public administrator, said the twister traveled along route 34 into Glen Allen, a village of slightly more than 100 people, and that he hasn’t been able to inspect the damage firsthand because law enforcement were restricting access to the area.
“I’m getting reports that it was pretty bad,” Welker told AP. He described it as a rural area, where residents mostly farmed, cut timber or worked construction jobs. “There was several trailers there, and I understand that there is still people missing,” he said.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson said that he would join emergency personnel on the ground in Bollinger County to further assess damage and learn what resources are needed for recovery.
The severe storm system is the latest in a wave of extreme weather that has threatened tens of millions of people in recent days.
Warnings were issued on Tuesday in central states including Missouri and Arkansas over potentially powerful tornadoes, “softball-sized” hail and strong winds.
Large parts of the Midwest and South remained under storm warnings and watches on Wednesday.
Nighttime storms and tornadoes can be particularly dangerous since most people are asleep. Missouri State Emergency Management Agency issued a detailed warning for residents to take extra precautions and remain alert on Tuesday.
Last week, a powerful storm system, which reportedly spawned dozens of tornadoes, left 32 people dead and destroyed buildings in 11 states including Arkansas, Iowa, and Missouri.
