Missouri has killed 11 people and Arkansas declares a state of emergency after three have died.
Local officials say at least 17 people have been killed in violent storms and tornadoes in parts of the United States.
“Patrols and local agencies continue to operate the incident in several locations,” the Missouri Highway Patrol said in a statement Saturday that at least 11 people were killed overnight in the Midwest state.
Tornado Aftermath Update – March 15th – 10:30am
An additional storm victim who was injured in Ozark County passed away early this morning. The current confirmed reports are 11 deaths.
▪The last three deaths, Ozark County
▪ One fatality, Butler County
▪10 deaths, Wayne County
▪§1…pic.twitter.com/zyjys6stzl– MSHP General HQ (@msphtrooperghq) March 15, 2025
The death included a man who was killed when a tornado tore his home. “It couldn’t be recognized as a home. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers described the scene where they stood up to rescuers when they arrived, saying, “The floor was upside down. We were walking down the wall.”
Highway Patrol reported damage to fallen trees, power lines and residential and commercial buildings after some areas were severely affected, as they were severely affected by “tornadoes, thunderstorms and large hail.”
In a nearby Arkansas state, authorities said three people have been killed and 29 people have been injured in the storm. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency.
I declared a state of emergency in response to the severe storm and tornado last night.
We will continue to do everything possible to support the affected communities. https://t.co/rjcwzzk7zm
– Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@sarahhuckabee) March 15, 2025
“We have a team investigating the damage from last night’s tornado, and our first responders are on the ground to help,” Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. “In the meantime, I released $250,000 from the Disaster Recovery Fund, providing resources for the business to each affected community.”
On Friday, authorities said three people were killed in a car accident in a sandstorm at Amarillo, the Texas Panhandle.
A massive storm system traveling around the country has caused sandstorms and unleashed winds that have incited more than 100 wildfires.
Extreme weather, including the winds of Hurricane Force, is projected to affect areas with over 100 million people. Winds up to 130km/h (80mph) from the Canadian border to Texas were predicted, threatening the condition of Blizzards in the cold northern region and threatening the risk of wildfires in warm, arid regions to the south.
Some Oklahoma communities have been ordered to evacuate after more than 130 fires have been reported across the state. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said it had taken down several tractor trailers because the wind was so strong. The state governor said more than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed by wildfires.
