At least three people have died in Ohio after apparent tornadoes devastated the Midwest during a severe weather outbreak Thursday, leaving a trail of extensive damage from Indiana to the Buckeye State, authorities said.
“Three people have been confirmed dead. We are working to identify the victims,” Chief Deputy Joe Kopus of the Logan County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Local reports earlier indicated that six people had died.
Witness accounts of at least five tornadoes were reported in northern Ohio, FOX Weather reported.
According to Logan County spokesperson Sheri Timmers, a suspected tornado left several buildings damaged in the Indian Lake area and several residents are believed to have suffered various injuries.
TRUMP HEADS TO OHIO WITH HIS GOP INFLUENCE AT PLAY IN CONTENTIVE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY
Members of the Huntsville Volunteer Fire Department enter a home to search for victims following a severe storm in Lakeview, Ohio, on Friday, March 15. (AP/Timothy D. Easley)
“As far as we know, we have a lot of injuries. We don't know the extent of the injuries,” Timmers said. “A trailer park was affected.”
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 15,000 power outages were reported across Ohio as of Friday morning.
An apparent tornado can be seen moving in Hancock County, Ohio, on March 14 in a screenshot obtained from a social media video. (Tom Simmons/via REUTERS)
In Huron County, emergency management officials warned of a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” near Plymouth.
Another suspected tornado also touched down about 75 miles west in Winchester, Indiana, a city of 4,700 located nearly 70 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
Indiana State Police said Friday there are “many significant injuries.”
Debris litters the ground following a severe storm Friday in Lakeview, Ohio. (AP/Joshua A. Bickel)
KANSAS AND MISSOURI PREPARE FOR BASEBALL-SIZED 'GORILLA HAIL' AS STORMS APPROACH
“There have been many, many significant injuries, but I don't know the number. I don't know where they are. I don't know what those injuries are,” Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter told a group of reporters. shortly after midnight. “There are many things we still don't know.”
An apparent tornado is seen in the distance in Madison, Indiana, on Thursday. Severe weather across the state and in Ohio left at least three dead, many injured and significant damage as of Friday morning. (Tony Novello)
The storm damaged a Walmart store and a Taco Bell in Winchester, Randolph County Sheriff Art Moystner told FOX59/CBS4.
“I am shocked; it is overwhelming,” Winchester Mayor Bob McCoy said in a statement to The Associated Press. “I heard what sounded like a train and then I started hearing sirens. I'd never heard that sound before; I don't want to hear it again.”
West of Winchester in Delaware County, emergency management officials said about half of the structures in the small town of Selma were damaged by a possible tornado.
Greg McDougle walks near the debris on Friday, March 15, after a severe storm in Lakeview, Ohio. (AP/Joshua A. Bickel)
“We are relieved to report that only minor injuries have been reported so far, and that one individual was transported to the hospital for treatment,” the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency said in a news release.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The storms also damaged homes and trailers in Hanover and Lamb.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
