At least 34 dead as tornadoes tear through southern US

Listen to article

At least 34 people have died, including 12 in Missouri alone, after a series of deadly tornadoes swept across several southeastern states in the US.

The storms, which caused widespread destruction, overturned cars, flattened homes, and led to significant flooding.

In Kansas, a dust storm caused a pile-up involving over 55 vehicles, resulting in at least eight deaths. More than 250,000 properties across seven states, including Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois, were left without power.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued tornado watches for eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle as more severe weather is forecast.

Mississippi also reported six deaths, and additional fatalities occurred in Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas.

Flash flooding and flood warnings have been issued for several areas, including central Mississippi, western Tennessee, and parts of Alabama and Arkansas. The NWS warned that these floods could prove deadly.

The destructive weather also fuelled over 100 wildfires in the central US and caused significant damage to infrastructure, with multiple lorries overturned on highways and widespread debris scattered across affected areas.

The region, often referred to as Tornado Alley, is particularly vulnerable to these kinds of storms, and the peak tornado season is expected from May to June, though tornadoes can occur at any time of the year.