34 dead as tornadoes tear through southern US

KABUL (Pajhwok): Fierce tornadoes have claimed nearly three dozen lives in several south-eastern states in the US, the BBC reported on Sunday.

At least 34 people lost their lives, including 12 in Missouri alone, the report said, adding the cyclones flipped cars and razed homes.

Over 55 vehicles were involved in a pile-up due to a dust storm in Kansas, where at least eight people were killed.

The power supply was snapped to more than 250,000 properties across seven states, including Michigan, Missouri and Illinois.

With severe weather likely in the region, tornado alerts have been issued across Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida Panhandle.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves reported six deaths caused by several tornadoes that tore through the southeastern state.

Flash flooding is predicted in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee; as well as parts of Alabama and Arkansas.

The Missouri state was “devastated by severe storms and tornadoes, leaving homes destroyed and lives lost”, according to Governor Mike Kehoe.

At least three fatalities and 29 injuries occurred in Arkansas, where Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency.

According to CBS, the deadly storms fuelled over 100 wildfires in several central states and overturned multiple semi-trailer trucks.

PAN Monitor/mud