A devastating tornado tore through south-eastern Missouri overnight, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least five people. The twister was part of a larger system of extreme storms that was spawning tornadoes and threatening to cause further death and destruction across the central United States.
The severe weather had already battered areas of Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, in addition to Missouri, where multiple fatalities and injuries were reported after a tornado touched down in Bollinger county, just south of St. Louis. State police in Missouri confirmed that teams of first responders were combing through destroyed homes and businesses in search of more victims.
The pictures on social media from Glen Allen, Missouri, showed the devastating aftermath of the tornado. The village, which is located about 110 miles south of St. Louis, was left with severely damaged houses, downed trees, power lines and debris covering roadways and yards. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries in the Glen Allen area following the destructive tornado.
Storm spotters reported that the tornado touched down in the area at around 3:30 a.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. It was one of over a dozen twisters spotted in the Midwest overnight, the service said.
Tornado Rips Through MissouriThe twister was spawned from a storm front sweeping across the Midwest and the South, threatening more than 24 million people with possible tornadoes and severe thunderstorms throughout the day. This comes just days after violent tornadoes tore through parts of the South and Midwest, killing at least 32 people and leaving damaged and destroyed homes and businesses in their wake.
In the past week, a tornado had devastated the Mississippi delta town of Rolling Fork, destroying many of its 400 homes and killing 26 people. US President Joe Biden visited Rolling Fork after declaring a state of emergency there.
Such severe tornadoes in early spring could portend the sort of damage that will become more commonplace due to changes wrought by global heating, scientists have warned. As climate scientists warn that the “tornado alley” is shifting farther east, the destruction caused by this tornado serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact that extreme weather events can have on communities.