A powerful tornado storm system has ripped through several US states, killing one person in Oklahoma and at least 11 others in central Arkansas while causing major damage in the Great Plains, Midwest and Southern states.
A tornado killed one person in Quapaw, a small residence in Oklahoma, on the border of Kansas and Missouri, authorities announced, saying the storm struck the town around 5:30pm local timeThe authorities are still trying to access the scene which has allegedly suffered damage to half of the community.
“Looks like about half of the town got extensive damage as well as the fire department,” Ottawa County Emergency Management director Joe Dan Morgan announced.
The tornado then continued towards, Baxter, where authorities say the twister injured several people and caused extensive damage. Emergency service responders are now checking the roughly 4,200 residents.
Tornado warnings are also in effect in for parts of Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. More twisters were also recorded in parts of Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, but no injuries were reported there.
“The greatest risk for a few intense tornadoes will exist across much of Arkansas perhaps into western and central Missouri,” a weather service advisory said.
Television footage showed damaged and overturned vehicles after a massive tornado struck about 10 miles (16km) west of Little Rock, Arkansas moving north-eastward for 30 miles (48km).
