The death toll from powerful tornadoes and violent storms that hit the central and southern United States this past weekend has risen to at least 40, with dozens more reported injured, according to local authorities.
News reports from the affected areas showed extensive damage, including homes with torn-off roofs, fallen trees, and overturned trucks, all caused by fierce winds.
In Kansas, eight people lost their lives in a crash involving more than 50 vehicles, which was triggered by poor visibility from a severe dust storm, local police reported.
In Oklahoma, four fatalities were confirmed after wildfires and strong winds swept across the state, according to local emergency services.
Mississippi’s Governor announced on social media that at least six people had died, with three still missing.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that 36 fatalities had been confirmed. He added that National Guard troops had been deployed in Arkansas, where three people had died, and 32 others had been injured.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe described the damage as “overwhelming” after visiting some of the worst-hit areas in his state. He stated that homes and businesses had been destroyed, entire communities were without power, and the road to recovery would be challenging.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol earlier confirmed 12 storm-related deaths and released images of boats stacked on top of one another at a marina destroyed by the storm.
In Texas, local authorities reported four deaths from vehicle accidents linked to dust storms and fires that caused low visibility on the roads.
The United States experienced the second-highest number of tornadoes on record last year, with nearly 1,800, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ranking just behind the year 2004.
