Deadly Tornadoes and Severe Storms Batter Midwest and Southern States

Severe weather, including tornadoes, caused at least 34 fatalities across six U.S. states, with Missouri experiencing the highest death toll. More than 150,000 people remain without electricity. Missouri's Butler County faced extensive property damage. Similar devastation occurred in Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Alabama, and Texas, as a powerful low-pressure system moved through.

The devastating impact of a powerful storm system left a trail of destruction across parts of the Midwest and South over the weekend, resulting in at least 34 deaths across six states. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for portions of West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on Sunday as the threats continued.

Missouri bore the brunt of the tragedy, with the state's highway patrol confirming 12 fatalities. Reports indicated that significant property damage occurred in Butler County, where more than 500 homes, a church, and a grocery store were destroyed. Residents grappled with the devastation, as mobile homes were decimated and communities left in ruins.

Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Alabama, and Texas also reported significant storm-related casualties and damages. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves detailed fatalities and widespread damage across the state, while accidents in Kansas and Texas, exacerbated by dust storms, contributed to the death toll. The ferocity of the system was underscored by meteorologist David Roth, who remarked on the extensive wave of tornado activity as severe thunderstorms moved through affected areas.

(With inputs from agencies.)