At least five people, including children, have died after a possible tornado hit Texas overnight, as strong storms caused power outages and forced residents to take shelter across the central United States over the Valentine's Day weekend. the fallen.
All five deaths were reported in Cooke County, Texas, and three occurred in a home, Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington told CNN Sunday morning. Two children in the area were reported missing and were still missing as of Sunday morning.
More than 110 million people across large areas of the United States are under the threat of large hail, damaging winds and fierce tornadoes on Sunday, primarily in the Mid-Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee river valleys.
As the storms move east, the Storm Prediction Center warned of “violent tornadoes, extreme hail, and corridors of widespread wind damage.”
Inside a Shell gas station, between 60 and 80 people were trapped until the storm passed, Sappington said. Multiple injuries were reported at the station, but none were life-threatening, he added.
Many vehicles were damaged and destroyed, leaving around 40 people stranded. They were transported by bus to another gas station in Gainesville, where they were picked up by family members.
Damage elsewhere: In the north Denton County, TexasA possible tornado injured an unknown number of people, damaged several homes, overturned 18-wheelers, downed trees and downed power lines Saturday night, authorities said early Sunday.
Damage was also reported to several homes in the neighboring city of celina.
Across state lines, officials said a possible tornado ripped through Rogers County (Oklahoma), downing power lines and trees and damaging homes. In the city of clamoreOfficials said there was “a lot of damage” and that power will be out to much of the city “for an extended period of time.”
