Washington (Web Desk/ Agencies): A devastating wave of extreme weather across the US Midwest and South has claimed the lives of at least 40 people, as tornadoes, dust storms, and wildfires wreaked havoc from Friday onward, the international media reported.
Missouri endured the most damage, with at least 12 fatalities recorded as violent tornadoes tore through the state.
In addition to the twisters, powerful winds in Texas and Kansas stirred up hazardous dust storms, leading to fatal vehicle crashes and pile-ups. In total, a dozen people were killed as a result of these dust storms.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma faced the nightmare of nearly 150 wildfires fueled by winds reaching 83 mph. These fires scorched 170,000 acres, destroying around 300 buildings, including the home of Oklahoma's Governor Kevin Stitt.
Fatalities were also reported in Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi as a result of tornadoes, while parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina were placed under flood warnings.
The catastrophic weather affected over 100 million people, leaving more than 320,000 without power.
In Butler County, Missouri, a tornado obliterated a home, leaving it unrecognizable, with the local coroner describing the scene as a “debris field” where even the floor was upside down.
The tornado left a trail of devastation that affected residents and responders alike.
Kansas was struck by another dust storm, which caused a crash involving over 55 vehicles, leading to the deaths of at least eight people. In Texas, a similar dust storm caused a pile-up of about 38 cars, resulting in at least four more deaths.
In Mississippi, six lives were lost to tornadoes, and three fatalities were reported in Alabama, including that of an 82-year-old woman.
In Arkansas, authorities reported three deaths and at least 29 injuries from the storm's impact.
In response to the chaos, President Donald Trump has announced that the National Guard has been deployed to assist with the recovery efforts in Arkansas.
