Powerful storms wreaked havoc across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, leaving at least 11 people dead and a trail of destruction in their wake. The severe weather obliterated homes, overturned cars, and even destroyed a truck stop where people sought shelter from the deadly storm.
In Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border, seven deaths were reported after a tornado plowed through a rural area near a mobile home park. Among the victims were two children, ages two and five, as well as three family members found in one home near the small community of Valley View. The devastation was described as severe by Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington.
In Oklahoma, guests at an outdoor wedding were injured as storms caused damage in the region. Tens of thousands of residents were left without power as a result of the destructive weather.
Hugo Parra, who sought shelter in a gas station bathroom with dozens of others, described the harrowing experience as the wind tried to rip them out of the bathrooms. Despite the chaos, there were no serious injuries reported at the truck stop where many had taken cover.
The destruction continued in Arkansas, where at least two people were killed and multiple others were injured. Emergency workers were still responding to calls in the affected areas, with search and rescue efforts underway.
The recent storms add to a grim month of deadly severe weather in the central United States, with tornadoes in Iowa claiming at least five lives and causing widespread damage. The severity of the storms has been attributed to climate change, with April seeing the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.
As residents in the affected areas wake up to the devastation, they are faced with overturned cars, collapsed garages, and damaged homes. The storms also caused power outages affecting thousands of homes and businesses, with reports of injuries from baseball-sized hail and other storm-related incidents.
Meteorologists and authorities issued urgent warnings for residents to seek cover as the storms moved through the region. The National Weather Service urged people to take immediate action to protect themselves from the dangerous weather conditions.
As communities begin the process of recovery and rebuilding, the impact of the powerful storms serves as a stark reminder of the destructive force of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of severe weather events.