At least 40 people have lost their lives after a series of violent tornadoes tore through the Midwest and South, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple states. Missouri was hit the hardest, with at least 12 deaths reported, while other states, including Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi, also faced devastating losses.
The storms, which began on Friday, weren’t just limited to tornadoes. Strong winds in Texas and Kansas kicked up massive dust storms, leading to deadly highway pile-ups. In Oklahoma, nearly 150 wildfires, fueled by fierce winds reaching 83 mph, burned through 170,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of buildings—including the farmhouse of the state’s governor.
The chaos extended even further, with flooding alerts issued across Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and several other states. By Sunday evening, more than 320,000 people were left without power as emergency responders scrambled to assess the damage.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe described the devastation as “staggering,” with entire neighborhoods wiped out. In Butler County, a tornado completely flattened a home, leaving it unrecognizable. “It was just a debris field,” a local official said. “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
Meanwhile, in Kansas, a dust storm caused a massive 55-car pile-up, killing at least eight people. In Texas, another dust storm led to a separate highway crash involving 38 cars, resulting in four more deaths.
Mississippi saw six fatalities as tornadoes swept through, while Alabama lost three people, including an elderly woman. Arkansas reported three deaths and nearly 30 injuries.
The disaster has led to states of emergency being declared in Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma. The National Guard has been deployed to Arkansas to assist with recovery efforts, and officials are warning residents to stay alert as the severe weather threat continues.
Former President Donald Trump took to social media, urging people to pray for those affected, saying, “Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!”
As communities begin to pick up the pieces, officials say the full extent of the devastation is still being assessed.
