Reports from foreign news outlets stated that a powerful tornado and localized gusts sweeping through the Midwest and South of the United States have resulted in at least 26 deaths in one day.
According to reports from the Associated Press on the 15th (local time), a tornado struck Missouri, causing at least 12 deaths and injuring several others. The state authorities reported that in Arkansas, three people died and 29 were injured due to the storm.
In the northwestern Texas Panhandle region of Amarillo, a sandstorm obscured visibility, leading to a series of traffic accidents on the road, resulting in three deaths. In Kansas, a sandstorm covered the highway, causing collisions involving over 50 vehicles and resulting in eight deaths.
As a result, the number of victims who died from severe weather in four U.S. states increased to at least 26 within the past day.
Fires also broke out in various locations. In Oklahoma, hurricane-force winds led to simultaneous outbreaks of about 130 wildfires across 44 counties, burning an area of 689㎢, including approximately 300 dwellings. Evacuation orders were issued for residents in the affected areas. A fire also occurred in Roberts County in the Texas Panhandle, burning 85㎢.
Power outages affected over 200,000 households in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, and Alabama due to damage to utility poles and wires.
The National Weather Service noted that a rapidly moving storm low-pressure system is expected to strengthen over the weekend, bringing severe tornadoes and large hail in various areas. It also warned of gusts exceeding 160 km/h in some parts of the Midwest and Southeast.
As a result, a high-level thunderstorm warning has been issued in Alabama and Mississippi for the first time since May of last year.
According to major foreign news outlets, while it is not uncommon for strong gusts to appear in these regions in March, meteorological experts explained that this time, the scale and intensity are particularly large.